Moderna says it's developing a combination COVID-19 and flu vaccine

Moderna Inc. has announced the development of a single-dose, combination COVID-19 and flu vaccine, MarketWatch reports.

The special vaccine candidate, called mRNA-1073, combines one COVID-19 booster with one flu booster, the company said during its R&D day Thursday.

"I am proud of the progress that the Moderna team has made in advancing our best-in-class mRNA pipeline while addressing the global COVID-19 pandemic," said CEO Stéphane Bancel. "Today we are announcing the first step in our novel respiratory vaccine program with the developmment of a single-dose vaccine that combines a booster against COVID-19 and a booster against flu."

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The company also said it plans to "develop booster vaccines against current variants of concern and against potential future variants of concern," writes MarketWatch. Data on the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in kids aged 6-11 is slated for the end of the year, Moderna noted, per CNBC's Meg Tirrell.