While most people are giving up on their COVID-19 vaccines, Pfizer announced it’s started Phase 1 trials for yet another vaccine — a two-for-one flu and COVID shot.

“Today we announced a Phase 1 study with @BioNTech_Group of an #mRNA-based combination vaccine candidate for #influenza and #COVID19, aiming to help protect against both diseases at once,” Pfizer tweeted.

Pfizer said the first participant has been dosed with the dual, experimental vaccine.

Pfizer framed the two-for-one grift as “simplifying immunization practices against these two respiratory pathogens, potentially leading to better vaccine uptake for both diseases.” 

“By combining both indications in one vaccine approach, we aim to provide individuals with an efficient way to receive immunization against two severe respiratory diseases with evolving viruses that require vaccine adaptation,” said Prof. Ugur Sahin, CEO of BioNTech. 

Pfizer’s pivot comes amid crumbling COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Recent data shows 83% of Canadians are not “up-to-date” COVID vaccinated, meaning they haven’t received a COVID vaccine in six months or more. 

Additionally, almost all Canadians with children under five refrained from injecting their babies. Only 1% of the 0-4 age group have completed their “primary series” of shots. And just 6.5% of toddlers in the 0-4 age group have received one shot or more.

Pfizer already admitted it never tested the ability of its COVID vaccine to prevent transmission. And in August, The Counter Signal reported on a study that suggested COVID-vaccinated individuals spread COVID for longer than unvaccinated individuals.