A Maryland-based biotechnology company on Wednesday announced the launch of a clinical trial that will examine the efficacy and safety of a combined flu/COVID-19 vaccine. The early stage phase 1/2 study will examine a combination of a seasonal influenza vaccine candidate from Novavax and a COVID-19 vaccine candidate the company makes, neither of which have been authorized or approved for use in the United States. Approximately 640 healthy adults between the ages of 50 and 70 will participate in the trial, which will take place in Australia. Only people who have been previously infected with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19, or have been vaccinated with an authorized COVID-19 vaccine at least eight weeks prior to enrollment will be considered. Results are expected during the first half of 2022. “This study is the first-of-its-kind to evaluate the vaccine’s potential to induce a robust immune response, augmented by our …