Trial underway in Cornwall to give Covid and flu jabs to patients at the same time
People due their second coronavirus vaccination are encouraged to take part in the study
A trial is taking place at the Royal Cornwall Hospital to see if people will be able to get a Covid-19 jab and a flu vaccine at the same time.
The ComFLuCOV study is looking at the safety and immune responses of giving both an approved Covid-19 vaccine at the same time as the recommended influenza (flu) vaccine from the 2020/21 flu season programme.
People in Cornwall who are currently due their second coronavirus dose are being encouraged to sign up and take part in the trial.
"We're anticipating that Covid-19 vaccination or boosters against different variants, is going to be something that we will probably have to do on an annual basis. And we are likely to have to combine that with the seasonal flu vaccine that we are used to getting once a year in the autumn."
David Tucker, consultant haematologist at Royal Cornwall Hospital
Doctors say if the study is successful, it means people will likely be offered both a Covid booster jab and a flu jab this autumn and winter.
It is thought that annual coronavirus boosters may be in place going forward to help protect people against new variants.
"Either their second one or a booster against any variants that might come around, and we really anticipate that is probably going to be something we will be doing for the next few years as Covid-19 is unlikely to go away completely, but we are just going to need to have our vaccinations, a bit like we do against the flu.
"We know that these viruses do change a bit overtime, so I anticipate an annual booster will be something that we need, and that might be the case for the future."
David Tucker, consultant haematologist at Royal Cornwall Hospital
You can find out more about the ConFluCOV study and how to take part in Cornwall here.