ABSTRACT
Co-administration of vaccines targeting multiple respiratory pathogens may enhance coverage and streamline adult immunization programs. We conducted a randomized, multicentre, open-label Phase IV trial registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100046227) in China to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of co-administering an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (WIBP-CorV) with the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) and a quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV4). A total of 1,404 adults aged ≥ 18 year, including equal numbers of adults aged 18–59 year and ≥60 year, were randomized 1:1:1 to receive WIBP-CorV + PPV23 on Day 0 followed by WIBP-CorV + IIV4 on Day 28, WIBP-CorV alone on Days 0 and 28, or PPV23 on Day 0 followed by IIV4 on Day 28. Co-administration preserved humoral immune responses across vaccine platforms. Non-inferiority in geometric mean titers or concentrations was demonstrated for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies and pneumococcal serotype-specific IgG responses. Seroconversion rates were non-inferior to those following separate administration for all pneumococcal serotypes, though results were less consistent for SARS-CoV-2 (after the second dose) and influenza A(H1N1). Age-stratified analyses showed age- and strain-specific non-inferiority findings that should be interpreted cautiously. Co-administration demonstrated an acceptable safety profile, with only slightly higher rates of mild, transient local reactions and no vaccine-related serious adverse events (SAEs). These findings support the feasibility of co-administering WIBP-CorV with PPV23 and IIV4 while maintaining immunogenicity and safety in adults represented in this study.
Trial registration The study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) under registration number ChiCTR2100046227.
KEYWORDS: Co-administration, SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, PPV23, IIV4, immunogenicity, safety
HIGHLIGHTS
A Phase IV trial evaluated co-administration of COVID-19, PPV23 and IIV4.
Co-administration preserved immunogenicity across multiple vaccine platforms.
Non-inferiority was achieved for most predefined immunogenicity endpoints.
No vaccine-related serious adverse events were observed.
Findings support integrated adult respiratory vaccination strategies.
Introduction
Respiratory infectious diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), seasonal influenza, and pneumococcal infection continue to exact a tremendous global toll. As of March 2023, over 760 million cases of COVID-19 and 6.8 million associated deaths had been reported worldwide, and COVID-19 remained a global health threat.1,2 Influenza viruses cause up to 5 million severe cases of seasonal influenza and 290,000–650,000 influenza-associated respiratory deaths each year, while pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of pneumonia and sepsis – responsible for about one million child deaths annually (mostly in developing countries) and substantial pneumonia mortality in older adults, underscoring that these three infections rank among the leading causes of infectious disease mortality worldwide.3–5
Vaccination is the most effective and cost-effective strategy to prevent COVID-19, influenza, and pneumococcal disease. Immunization programs save millions of lives each year and are among the best investments in public health.6 For example, COVID-19 vaccines have drastically reduced pandemic mortality – modeling estimates suggest that vaccination averted roughly 14–20 million deaths globally in 2021.7,8 Likewise, annual influenza vaccination remains the best way to avert severe flu illness and associated hospitalizations, and pneumococcal vaccines have significantly reduced invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia in high-risk groups.9,10 Thus, broad vaccine coverage against these pathogens is critical to curb their disease burden.
In recognition of these benefits, WHO and many countries now promote co-administration of vaccines, as giving all needed shots in the same visit improves convenience, immunization efficiency, and community protection.11,12 WHO notes that administering COVID-19 and influenza vaccines together can streamline campaigns without safety or efficacy concerns.13 Immunization authorities (e.g., the U.S. ACIP) similarly advise offering multiple vaccines at once to minimize visits and close immunity gaps.14 Integrated adult vaccination strategies not only improve coverage but also strengthen preparedness for future respiratory epidemics; for example, robust influenza vaccine programs reduce annual flu burden and improve readiness for threats like COVID-19.15 Developing combined vaccine approaches for adults is therefore an important step to reinforce defenses against respiratory pathogens.
Because older adults and those with chronic conditions are at highest risk for severe influenza and pneumococcal disease, many countries already recommend both influenza and pneumococcal vaccines in these groups, often administered together.16–18 The addition of COVID-19 vaccines to adult schedules raises questions about co-administering them with these other vaccines. Limited evidence is available so far, but initial studies are encouraging: a UK trial found no safety issues or immune interference when an mRNA (BNT162b2) or adenoviral COVID-19 vaccine (ChAdOx1) was co-administered with a flu shot, and a phase IV clinical trial in China reported that giving an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine with influenza on Day 0 and PPV23 on Day 28 was immunogenic and safe in adults.19,20 However, these studies were relatively small or population-specific, and comprehensive evidence from large randomized trials in a general adult population remains limited.
Here we report a large multicenter trial in China evaluating co-administration of WIBP-CorV with IIV4 or PPV23 vaccines in adults across age subgroups. Therefore, we conducted a large, randomized, multicenter, open-label, controlled, non-inferiority Phase IV trial in China to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of co-administering WIBP-CorV with PPV23 on Day 0 and with IIV4 on Day 28 in adults aged ≥ 18 years, including predefined age groups of 18–59 years and ≥60 years.
Methods
Trial design
This was a randomized, open-label, multicenter, controlled, non-inferiority Phase IV clinical trial conducted in China. Healthy adults aged ≥ 18 years were enrolled at three provincial study centers (Hubei, Guangdong, and Henan). The study protocol was approved by the ethics committees of the Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Hubei Academy of Preventive Medicine; approval no. 2021–008-02), the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (approval no. 2019V005-E08), and the Henan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (approval no. 2021-YM-008–01), as well as by the China National Human Genetic Resources Administration (approval no. [2021]CJ1085). The trial was conducted in accordance with the principles of Good Clinical Practice and the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to any study-related procedures. All vaccinations were administered by trained and qualified healthcare professionals in accordance with the study protocol. This trial was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100046227).
Participants
Eligible participants were healthy Chinese adults aged ≥ 18 years at enrollment who were able to comply with study procedures and attend all scheduled follow-up visits. Key inclusion criteria included provision of written informed consent; no prior receipt of any pneumococcal or COVID-19 vaccine; no seasonal influenza vaccination during the current influenza season prior to enrollment; and an interval of at least 14 d since receipt of any other vaccine. Screening assessments required a normal medical history and physical examination, including an axillary temperature < 37.3°C.
Key exclusion criteria for the first dose included a previous diagnosis of COVID-19 or a documented history of a positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test; personal or family history of vaccine hypersensitivity, seizures, epilepsy, or neurological or psychiatric disorders; known severe allergy or contraindication to vaccination; immunodeficiency or receipt of nonspecific immunoglobulin within one month prior to enrollment; acute febrile or infectious illness; or active infectious, suppurative, or allergic skin disease. Before enrollment, all participants were required to provide a negative SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test result. Additional exclusion criteria for administration of the second dose included any SAE related to a study vaccine after the first dose or the occurrence of any condition meeting first-dose exclusion criteria.
Vaccines
The inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Vero cell) (WIBP-CorV; 0.5 mL per dose, lot no. 202,102,034, expiry 20 February 2024) was manufactured by Wuhan Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd. (Sinopharm) and contained 200 WU of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 antigen per dose with aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant. The 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23; 0.5 mL per dose, lot no. 20,200,734, expiry 27 July 2022) was manufactured by Chengdu Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd. and contained 25 μg of purified capsular polysaccharide from each of 23 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes per dose. The split-virion quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV4; 0.5 mL per dose, lot no. Q20200925, expiry 6 September 2021) was manufactured by Changchun Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd. and contained 15 μg of hemagglutinin from each of four influenza strains (A(H1N1), A(H3N2), B/Yamagata, and B/Victoria) per dose. All vaccines were administered intramuscularly.
Outcomes
Primary immunogenicity endpoints were as follows: (1) seroconversion rates and neutralizing antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 at Days 28 and 56 in the co-administration group compared with the WIBP-CorV-only group; (2) seroconversion rates and serotype-specific IgG concentrations for 23 pneumococcal serotypes at Day 28 in the co-administration group compared with the PPV23/IIV4-only group; and (3) seroconversion rates and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titers against influenza strains at Day 56 in the co-administration group compared with the PPV23/IIV4-only group.
Secondary endpoints included safety outcomes, including the incidence of solicited adverse events (AEs) within 7 days after each dose, unsolicited AEs within 28 days after each dose, and SAEs during the 6-month follow-up period, as well as immunogenicity analyses stratified by age group (18–59 years vs. ≥60 years).
Sample size
Sample size calculations for non-inferiority testing of immunogenicity endpoints were performed using PASS version 11. Based on Phase III data for the quadrivalent influenza vaccine, the lowest observed seroconversion rate (74.15% for the B/Victoria strain in adults aged < 60 years) and the largest standard deviation of log-transformed H1N1 geometric mean titers (GMTs) (0.63) were applied. Assuming a one-sided significance level (α) of 0.025, 90% power, and a non-inferiority margin (δ) of 10%, a minimum of 404 participants per group was required for seroconversion rate analyses, and 271 participants per group for GMT-based analyses. Allowing for an anticipated dropout rate of 15%, the target enrollment was set at 468 participants per group, yielding a total sample size of 1,404 participants.
Randomization
Participants were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three study groups: (a) co-administration group (WIBP-CorV + PPV23 on Day 0, and WIBP-CorV + IIV4 on Day 28); (b) WIBP-CorV-only group (WIBP-CorV on Days 0 and 28); or (c) PPV23/IIV4-only group (PPV23 on Day 0 and IIV4 on Day 28). Participants were prospectively stratified into two predefined age groups (18–59 years and ≥60 years), with approximately equal allocation to each age stratum, before randomization. A stratified block randomization scheme was used, with stratification by age group and study center. An independent statistician generated the randomization sequence. Investigators enrolling participants had access to the pre-generated randomization list and assigned allocation codes sequentially according to the order of participant enrollment. Allocation codes were not reused.
This was an open-label trial; participants and vaccinators were aware of group assignment. Laboratory personnel and statisticians performing immunogenicity and safety analyses were blinded to treatment allocation.
Immunogenicity assessments
Blood samples were collected at baseline (Day 0, prior to vaccination), Day 28, and Day 56. Baseline samples were used to determine pre-vaccination serostatus. Samples collected approximately 28 days (±5 d) after Dose 1 were used to assess SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies and pneumococcal serotype-specific IgG antibodies. Samples collected approximately 28 days (±5 d) after Dose 2 were used to assess SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies and influenza strain-specific antibodies.
SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies were measured using a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Seroconversion was defined as a ≥ 4-fold increase in neutralizing antibody titers from baseline. Pneumococcal IgG antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at Chengdu Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd., with seroconversion defined as a ≥ 2-fold increase in serotype-specific IgG concentration from baseline for each serotype. Influenza antibodies were measured by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay at the Virology Laboratory of the Jilin Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. An HI titer ≥ 1:40 was considered seropositive. Influenza seroconversion was defined as a change from a pre-vaccination titer < 1:10 to a post-vaccination titer ≥ 1:40, or a ≥ 4-fold increase for participants with baseline titers ≥ 1:10.
Safety assessments
After each vaccination, participants were provided with diary cards to record solicited local and systemic AEs for 7 days and unsolicited AEs and concomitant medication use for 28 days post-vaccination. Safety data were collected through scheduled telephone or on-site follow-up visits and supplemented by passive surveillance via the China CDC Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) reporting system for SAEs up to 6 months after vaccination.
Solicited local AEs included injection-site pain, swelling, redness, induration, pruritus, and rash. Solicited systemic AEs included fever, fatigue, dizziness, diarrhea, myalgia, arthralgia, headache, cough, somnolence, chest discomfort, acute allergic reaction, nausea, vomiting, and facial paralysis. AE severity and causality were assessed according to the National Medical Products Administration “Guiding Principles for Grading Adverse Reactions in Clinical Trials of Preventive Vaccines.”21 According to the study protocol, AEs occurring within 7 days after vaccination were considered at least possibly related to vaccination, whereas AEs occurring during Days 8–28 after vaccination were individually assessed for causality by the investigators.
Statistical analysis
Statistical analyses were performed using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Antibody GMTs/geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) and geometric mean increases (GMIs) were summarized with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Between-group comparisons of GMTs/GMCs and GMIs were conducted using t-tests on log-transformed data when normality assumptions were met, or non-parametric methods otherwise. For log-normally distributed data, 95% CIs for between-group ratios were estimated using the t-distribution; otherwise, the Hodges–Lehmann estimator was applied.
Non-inferiority was concluded if the lower bound of the two-sided 95% CI for the GMT/GMC ratio was ≥ 0.67 or if the lower bound of the between-group difference in seroconversion rates was ≥ −10%. Seropositivity and seroconversion rates were calculated with corresponding 95% CIs for each antigen. Prespecified subgroup analyses by age group (18–59 years vs. ≥60 years) were conducted for primary immunogenicity endpoints. Differences in AE incidence were compared using the Pearson’s χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare AE severity and relatedness across groups. A two-sided P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Primary immunogenicity analyses were performed in the per-protocol set (PPS), whereas safety analyses were performed in the safety set (SS). Missing values were queried and verified against source documents whenever possible. Values that could not be verified remained missing and were analyzed without imputation. All statistical analyses were conducted by investigators from academic institutions, including the School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University.
Results
Baseline characteristics
Between May and June 2021, 1,404 adults were enrolled at study centers in three provinces of China (Hubei, Guangdong, and Henan) and randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to the co-administration group (WIBP-CorV + PPV23/IIV4), the WIBP-CorV-only group, or the PPV23/IIV4-only group. Participant follow-up was completed in December 2021. Participants in the co-administration group received WIBP-CorV and PPV23 on Day 0 and WIBP-CorV and IIV4 on Day 28, while the other two groups received their assigned vaccines according to the same schedule. Blood samples were collected on Days 0, 28, and 56 for immunogenicity assessments, and safety was monitored for 6 months.
A total of 465, 465, and 467 participants received the first dose in the three groups, respectively, and 451, 454, and 454 were included in the PPS (Figure 1). All participants were Chinese, and baseline characteristics were well balanced across groups. No significant differences were observed in age, sex, body temperature, blood pressure, cardiopulmonary examination, comorbidities, or concomitant medication use (Table 1).
Figure 1.

Participant disposition and analysis populations.
This CONSORT flow diagram summarizes participant screening, randomization, allocation to the three study groups, receipt of study vaccinations, completion of follow-up procedures, and inclusion in the predefined analysis populations.
The full analysis set (FAS) included all randomized participants who received at least one dose of a study vaccine. The per-protocol set (PPS) comprised participants who fulfilled all eligibility criteria, completed all scheduled visits within protocol-defined time windows, and provided valid immunogenicity data without major protocol deviations. The safety set (SS) included all participants who received at least one dose of a study vaccine and were assessed for safety outcomes.
Participants in the co-administration group received WIBP-CorV + PPV23 on Day 0, followed by WIBP-CorV + IIV4 on Day 28. Participants in the WIBP-CorV-only group received WIBP-CorV on Days 0 and 28. Participants in the PPV23/IIV4-only group received PPV23 on Day 0 and IIV4 on Day 28.
WIBP-CorV, inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine; PPV23, 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine; IIV4, quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine.
Table 1.
Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of participants, SS.
| Variables | WIBP-CorV + PPV23/IIV4 (N = 465) |
WIBP-CorV (N = 465) |
PPV23 /IIV4 (N = 467) |
P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, year | ||||
| Mean (SD) | 53.96 (17.50) | 54.09 (17.92) | 54.13 (17.76) | .989 |
| Median | 60.07 | 59.08 | 59.54 | |
| Gender | ||||
| Male, n (%) | 229 (49.25) | 225 (48.39) | 239 (51.18) | .683 |
| Female, n (%) | 236 (50.75) | 240 (51.61) | 228 (48.82) | |
| Body temperature,°C | ||||
| Mean (SD) | 36.28 (0.30) | 36.27 (0.29) | 36.26 (0.30) | .498 |
| Median | 36.2 | 36.2 | 36.2 | |
| Systolic blood pressure, mmHg | ||||
| Mean (SD) | 130.74 (17.10) | 129.22 (17.48) | 129.89 (16.28) | .390 |
| Median | 131 | 130 | 130 | |
| Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg | ||||
| Mean (SD) | 80.19 (9.15) | 80.13 (9.46) | 80.72 (9.05) | .557 |
| Median | 80 | 80 | 80 | |
| Cardiopulmonary auscultation | ||||
| Normal, n (%) | 465 (100.00) | 465 (100.00) | 467 (100.00) | 1.000 |
| Abnormal, n (%) | 0 (0.00) | 0 (0.00) | 0 (0.00) | |
| Comorbidities | ||||
| Yes, n (%) | 90 (19.35) | 93 (20.00) | 97 (20.77) | .864 |
| No, n (%) | 375 (80.65) | 372 (80.00) | 370 (79.23) | |
| Concomitant medication use | ||||
| Yes, n (%) | 90 (19.35) | 93 (20.00) | 97 (20.77) | .864 |
| No, n (%) | 375 (80.65) | 372 (80.00) | 370 (79.23) | |
Data are presented as mean (standard deviation, SD), median, or number (%) unless otherwise specified.
Baseline characteristics were compared across study groups using two-sided statistical tests; no statistically significant differences were observed among groups.
Participants in the co-administration group received WIBP-CorV + PPV23 on Day 0, followed by WIBP-CorV + IIV4 on Day 28. Participants in the WIBP-CorV-only group received WIBP-CorV on Days 0 and 28. Participants in the PPV23/IIV4-only group received PPV23 on Day 0 and IIV4 on Day 28.
WIBP-CorV, inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine; PPV23, 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine; IIV4, quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine; SS, Safety Set; SD, standard deviation.
Immunogenicity
Co-administration of WIBP-CorV with PPV23 or IIV4 preserved the overall magnitude of vaccine-induced humoral immunity across all platforms.
SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies
Vaccination with WIBP-CorV, whether administered alone or co-administered with PPV23 or IIV4, induced substantial increases in neutralizing antibody responses. Seroconversion rates and GMTs rose markedly from baseline in both groups, with the greatest increases observed following the second WIBP-CorV dose (Figure 2(a, b)). In the overall population and in participants aged 18–59 years, GMTs at Days 28 and 56 were comparable between groups, and geometric mean titer ratios (GMRs) met the pre-specified non-inferiority criterion (lower bound ≥ 0.67). However, among participants aged ≥ 60 years, non-inferiority was not met at Day 56, as the lower bound of the GMR 95% CI fell below 0.67 (Figure 2(b)).
Figure 2.

Continued.
Figure 2.

SARS-CoV-2–specific neutralizing antibody seroconversion rates and GMTs at Day 28 after dose 1 and dose 2, stratified by age group, PPS.
(a) Seroconversion rates, defined as a ≥ 4-fold increase in SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers from baseline, are shown with 95% CIs for each vaccination group in the overall population and stratified by age (18–59 years; ≥60 years). Non-inferiority of the co-administration group relative to the WIBP-CorV–only group was assessed using a pre-specified margin of -10% points.
(b) Log10-transformed GMTs with 95% CIs are presented for each vaccination group at Day 28 after Dose 1 and Dose 2, overall and by age subgroup. GMRs comparing the co-administration group with the WIBP-CorV–only group are shown with corresponding 95% CIs. Non-inferiority was concluded if the lower bound of the 95% CI for the GMR was ≥ 0.67.
(c) Violin plots display individual log10-transformed neutralizing antibody titers for each vaccination group in the overall population and by age subgroup, with superimposed box plots indicating the median and IQR. The width of each violin reflects the underlying data density.
The co-administration group received WIBP-CorV + PPV23 on Day 0, followed by WIBP-CorV + IIV4 on Day 28. The WIBP-CorV–only group received WIBP-CorV on Days 0 and 28. Sample sizes were 451 participants in the co-administration group (18–59 years: n = 225; ≥60 years: n = 226) and 454 participants in the WIBP-CorV–only group (18–59 years: n = 230; ≥60 years: n = 224).
GMT, geometric mean titer; GMR, geometric mean titer ratio; IQR, interquartile range; PPS, per-protocol set; CI, confidence interval; WIBP-CorV, inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine; PPV23, 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine; IIV4, quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine.
Despite this, neutralizing antibody levels at both timepoints remained similar between groups, and GMIs showed no statistically significant differences across all age strata (Figure 2(c); Supplementary Table S3). These findings indicate that co-administration preserves vaccine-induced humoral responses in most adults, although reduced neutralization responses in older adults warrant further consideration in co-administration strategies.
Figure 2.

Continued.
Pneumococcal polysaccharide antibodies
For PPV23, seroconversion rates at Day 28 in the co-administration group ranged from 62.75% to 95.79% across the 23 pneumococcal serotypes in the overall population, meeting the pre-specified non-inferiority criterion (lower bound of the between-group 95% CIs difference ≥ −10%). In adults aged 18–59 years, a small number of serotypes showed slightly lower seroconversion rates compared to the PPV23/IIV4-only group, whereas participants aged ≥ 60 years all exhibited higher rates, with positive between-group differences (Figure 3(a)).
Figure 3.

Pneumococcal serotype-specific IgG seroconversion rates and GMCs at Day 28, stratified by age group, PPS. (a) Seroconversion rates, defined as a ≥ 2-fold increase in serotype-specific IgG concentrations from baseline to Day 28, are shown with 95% CIs for each vaccination group in the overall population and stratified by age (18–59 years; ≥60 years). Non-inferiority of the co-administration group relative to the PPV23/IIV4–only group was assessed using a pre-specified margin of –10% points.
GMC ratios in the overall population ranged from 0.88 to 1.07, with all lower bounds of the 95% CIs ≥ 0.67, indicating that co-administration did not compromise IgG responses (Figure 3(b, c)). Baseline GMC values for all serotypes are presented in Supplementary Table S1, and post-vaccination GMIs demonstrated robust and consistent rises across both age subgroups (Supplementary Table S4).
Figure 3.

(b) Log10-transformed GMCs with 95% CIs are presented for each vaccination group in the overall and age-stratified populations. GMRs comparing the co-administration group with the PPV23/IIV4-only group are shown with corresponding 95% CIs. Non-inferiority was concluded if the lower bound of the 95% CI for the GMR was ≥ 0.67.
These findings indicate that co-administration preserved the T cell–independent immunogenicity of PPV23, with potential enhancement in older adults.
Figure 3.

(c) Violin plots show individual log10-transformed serotype-specific IgG concentrations for each vaccination group overall and by age group, with superimposed box plots indicating the median and IQR. The width of each violin reflects the data density. The co-administration group received WIBP-CorV + PPV23 on Day 0, followed by WIBP-CorV + IIV4 on Day 28. The PPV23/IIV4-only group received PPV23 on Day 0 and IIV4 on Day 28. Sample sizes were 451 participants in the co-administration group (18–59 years: n = 225; ≥60 years: n = 226) and 454 in the PPV23/IIV4-only group (18–59 years: n = 227; ≥60 years: n = 227). IgG, immunoglobulin G; GMC, geometric mean concentration; GMR, geometric mean ratio; PPS, per-protocol set; IQR, interquartile range; PPV23, 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine; IIV4, quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine; CI, confidence interval.
Influenza antibodies
By Day 56, seroconversion rates for the four influenza strains – A (H1N1), A(H3N2), B/Yamagata, and B/Victoria – ranged from 74.28% to 90.97% in the overall population (Figure 4(a). When compared with the PPV23+IIV4-only group, the co-administration group met the pre-specified non-inferiority criterion for all strains except A(H1N1) in the overall cohort, for which the lower bound of the 95% CI for the between-group difference marginally crossed the predefined −10% margin. Age-stratified analyses indicated that non-inferiority was narrowly missed for A (H3N2) among adults aged 18–59 years, and for A(H1N1), B/Yamagata, and B/Victoria among adults aged ≥ 60 years. Notably, these instances reflected modest numerical differences rather than consistent directional reductions across strains or age groups (Figure 4(a)). Because this trial was designed and powered to evaluate overall non-inferiority rather than differences between age subgroups, these subgroup findings should be interpreted with caution.
Figure 4.

Influenza-specific HI antibody seroconversion rates and GMTs at Day 56, stratified by age group, PPS.
(a) Seroconversion rates, defined as a post-vaccination HI titer ≥ 1:40 in participants with a pre-vaccination titer < 1:10, or a ≥ 4-fold increase in those with a baseline titer ≥ 1:10, are shown with 95% CIs for each vaccination group in the overall population and stratified by age (18–59 years; ≥60 years). Non-inferiority of the co-administration group relative to the PPV23/IIV4-only group was assessed using a pre-specified margin of -10% points.
(b) Log10-transformed GMTs with 95% CIs are presented for each vaccination group, overall and by age subgroup. GMRs comparing the co-administration group with the PPV23/IIV4-only group are shown with corresponding 95% CIs. Non-inferiority was concluded if the lower bound of the 95% CI for the GMR was ≥ 0.67.
(c) Violin plots display individual log10-transformed HI titers for each vaccination group in the overall population and by age subgroup, with superimposed box plots indicating the median and IQR. The width of each violin reflects the underlying data density.
The co-administration group received WIBP-CorV + PPV23 on Day 0, followed by WIBP-CorV + IIV4 on Day 28. The PPV23/IIV4-only group received PPV23 on Day 0 and IIV4 on Day 28. Sample sizes were 451 participants in the co-administration group (18–59 years: n = 225; ≥60 years: n = 226) and 454 participants in the PPV23/IIV4-only group (18–59 years: n = 227; ≥60 years: n = 227).
HI, hemagglutination inhibition; GMT, geometric mean titer; PPS, per-protocol set; WIBP-CorV, inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine; PPV23, 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine; IIV4, quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine; CI, confidence interval; GMR, geometric mean titer ratio; IQR, interquartile range.
Importantly, the observed differences in seroconversion rates were not mirrored in GMT-based immunogenicity endpoints. For all four strains, GMTs increased substantially from baseline in both groups, reaching high post-vaccination levels by Day 56 (for example, A (H1N1) GMTs increased from 58.02 to 580.34 in the co-administration group) (Figure 4(b); Supplementary Table S2 and S5). In adults aged 18–59 years, GMRs consistently satisfied the non-inferiority criterion for all strains, with the lower bounds of the 95% CIs remaining ≥ 0.67.
Figure 4.

Continued.
Across age strata, adults aged 18–59 years generally exhibited higher post-vaccination GMTs, whereas antibody responses among older adults (≥60 years) were more narrowly distributed, particularly for A (H3N2), suggesting a more homogeneous but moderately attenuated humoral response in this age group (Figure 4(b); Figure 4(c)). Violin plot visualizations further illustrated comparable central tendencies and distributional patterns of log-transformed GMTs between groups across strains and age subgroups (Figure 4(c)).
Figure 4.

Continued.
Baseline GMT values for all strains are provided in Supplementary Table S2. Consistent with GMT findings, GMIs at Day 56 confirmed comparable fold rises between groups. Notably, for certain strains – such as B/Yamagata in adults aged 18–59 years – the co-administration group demonstrated numerically higher GMIs (Supplementary Table S5), further supporting the preservation of influenza vaccine–induced humoral immunogenicity under the co-administration strategy.
Summary
Co-administration of WIBP-CorV with either PPV23 or IIV4 largely preserved humoral immune responses across vaccine platforms. Non-inferiority based on geometric mean antibody responses was demonstrated for SARS-CoV-2 and all 23 pneumococcal serotypes. For influenza, most strains met non-inferiority criteria, except A(H1N1) and B/Yamagata. Seroconversion-based analyses similarly demonstrated non-inferiority for all pneumococcal serotypes, whereas the prespecified non-inferiority criterion was not met for SARS-CoV-2 among adults aged ≥ 60 years. These findings support the immunological feasibility of this multi-pathogen vaccination strategy in the adult populations evaluated in this study while indicating age- and strain-specific non-inferiority findings that should be interpreted cautiously.
Safety
Co-administration was associated with a higher incidence of vaccine-related solicited local AEs compared with the PPV23/IIV4-only group, largely driven by injection-site pain (Table 2; Supplementary Table S6; Figure 5). Local AEs were reported in 31.83% of participants in the co-administration group, compared with 27.96% in the WIBP-CorV-only group and 20.13% in the PPV23/IIV4-only group. Risk difference analyses demonstrated that the largest absolute increases were consistently observed when comparing the co-administration group with the PPV23/IIV4-only group across Dose 1, Dose 2, and any dose (Figure 5).
Table 2.
Summary of vaccine-related adverse events occurring within 7 days after any dose, ss.
| Variables | WIBP-CorV + PPV23/IIV4 (A, N = 465) |
WIBP-CorV (B, N = 465) |
PPV23/IIV4 (C, N = 467) |
p value |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A vs. B | A vs. C | ||||
| Any AEs, n (%) | 164 (35.27) | 148 (31.83) | 114 (24.41) | 0.267 | 0.001 |
| Solicited AEs, n (%) | 162 (34.84) | 146 (31.40) | 110 (23.55) | 0.265 | 0.001 |
| Local AEs, n (%) | 148 (31.83) | 130 (27.96) | 94 (20.13) | 0.197 | <0.001 |
| Systemic AEs, n (%) | 34 (7.31) | 31 (6.67) | 23 (4.93) | 0.700 | 0.128 |
| Unsolicited AEs, n (%) | 5 (1.08) | 9 (1.94) | 10 (2.14) | 0.281 | 0.196 |
Data are presented as the number (%) of participants experiencing at least one vaccine-related AE within 7 days after any dose.
Solicited local AEs refer to injection-site reactions, whereas solicited systemic AEs refer to systemic symptoms occurring at sites other than the injection site. Unsolicited AEs include any additional events not prespecified in the solicited AE list.
Comparisons between groups were performed using Pearson’s χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate. ReportedPvalues correspond to pairwise comparisons (A vs. B and A vs. C).
A, WIBP-CorV + PPV23/IIV4 (co-administration group); B, WIBP-CorV-only group; C, PPV23/IIV4-only group; SS, Safety Set; AE, adverse event.
Figure 5.

Risk differences in vaccine-related adverse event incidence after each dose, SS.
Risk differences (RDs) represent the absolute percentage-point differences in the proportion of participants reporting at least one vaccine-related AE between the co-administration group and each single-vaccine comparator (WIBP-CorV-only or PPV23/IIV4-only groups). Positive RD values indicate a higher incidence of AEs in the co-administration group.
RDs and corresponding 95% CIs were calculated using the Newcombe–Wilson method. Solicited local AEs, solicited systemic AEs, and unsolicited AEs occurring within 7 days after Dose 1, Dose 2, and any dose are shown.
AE, adverse event; CI, confidence interval; RD, risk difference; SS, Safety Set.
Solicited systemic AEs were infrequent across all groups, occurring in 7.31%, 6.67%, and 4.93% of participants in the co-administration, WIBP-CorV-only, and PPV23/IIV4-only groups, respectively (Table 2). The most commonly reported systemic events included fatigue, fever, dizziness, and gastrointestinal symptoms. No individual systemic symptom showed a consistent or clinically meaningful increase in the co-administration group, and risk differences for systemic AEs were small and not statistically significant across doses (Figure 5; Supplementary Table S6).
Unsolicited AEs were rare and occurred at comparable frequencies among groups (1.08%, 1.94%, and 2.14%, respectively) (Table 2; Figure 5). During Days 8–28 after any dose, unsolicited AEs remained uncommon, with no statistically significant differences in the incidence of overall unsolicited AEs, vaccine-related unsolicited AEs, or Grade ≥ 3 unsolicited AEs between the co-administration group and either comparator group (Supplementary Table S8).
Across all vaccination groups, the majority of vaccine-related AEs reported within 7 days after vaccination were mild (Grade 1), with few moderate (Grade 2) and very few severe (Grade 3) events, and no evidence of increased AE severity associated with co-administration (Supplementary Table S7). Similarly, the severity distribution of unsolicited AEs occurring during Days 8–28 after vaccination was comparable across the three groups, with no apparent increase in Grade ≥ 3 events following co-administration (Supplementary Table S9).
During the 6-month follow-up period, 14 participants experienced SAEs, corresponding to incidences of 1.29%, 0.86%, and 0.86% in the co-administration, WIBP-CorV-only, and PPV23/IIV4-only groups, respectively, with no statistically significant differences between groups. All reported SAEs were assessed as unrelated to study vaccination, no vaccine-related SAEs or deaths occurred, and the distribution of SAEs by MedDRA System Organ Class was comparable across groups (Supplementary Table S10).
Discussion
This multicentre randomized Phase IV trial demonstrates that co-administration of WIBP-CorV with PPV23 on Day 0 and IIV4 on Day 28 according to the study vaccination schedule elicits immune responses comparable to separate vaccination and maintains an acceptable safety profile. Although non‑inferiority for seroconversion was not met in some subgroups – particularly for A(H1N1) and B/Yamagata in older adults and certain pneumococcal serotypes in adults aged 18–59 years – GMTs/GMCs remained robust, suggesting that the overall immunogenicity of the co-administration strategy was preserved within the age groups evaluated in this study.
Age-stratified analyses revealed expected patterns of immunosenescence. Older adults exhibited lower seroconversion to SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, reflecting age-related reductions in naïve B- and T-cell pools, impaired germinal-center activity, and limited helper T-cell expansion, which collectively weaken primary antibody and CD8+ responses to novel antigens.22–26 In this context, the use of an adjuvanted inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine may be relevant in older adults, as adjuvants may enhance immune activation in the setting of age-related immune decline.23 However, because this study did not include an unadjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 vaccine comparator, the specific contribution of the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant to the observed immune responses cannot be determined. In contrast, responses to PPV23 remained strong in older adults, consistent with the T-cell–independent nature of polysaccharide antigens and their reliance on preexisting memory B-cell pools accumulated through lifelong pneumococcal exposure.27–29 Thus, antigen type and immunological pathway fundamentally shape vaccine responsiveness in aging populations and support integrated co-administration strategies that leverage the robust responses observed with PPV23 while acknowledging the constraints imposed by immunosenescence. Notably, immune responses against A(H3N2), a historically drift-prone influenza strain, were preserved but merit continued monitoring, particularly in older adults who are more susceptible to antigenic mismatch and reduced vaccine effectiveness.30 These findings highlight how antigen type and immunological pathway influence vaccine responsiveness and support integrated adult vaccination strategies that consider age-specific immunogenicity profiles.
The acceptable safety profile supports practical implementation. Local reactions were slightly more frequent with co‑administration but were predominantly mild and transient, while systemic reactions remained uncommon. This finding was expected and is likely attributable to the known reactogenicity profile of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, as participants in both the co-administration group and the WIBP-CorV-only group received WIBP-CorV, whereas participants in the PPV23/IIV4-only group did not. Similar observations have been reported in previous COVID-19 vaccine co-administration studies. No vaccine‑related SAEs occurred. This pattern aligns with earlier trials in which concurrent COVID‑19 and influenza vaccination showed no new safety concerns and preserved immunogenicity.19
By incorporating prospective age stratification with approximately equal enrollment of adults aged 18–59 years and ≥60 years, this study provides important insights into the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccine co-administration with both PPV23 and IIV4 according to the study vaccination schedule across predefined adult age groups. Furthermore, by evaluating these co-administration schedules across different dosing visits within a single randomized trial, our findings provide additional evidence supporting integrated respiratory vaccination strategies. Together with previous randomized studies of COVID-19 vaccine co-administration with influenza and pneumococcal vaccines,19,31–35 this study provides one of the most comprehensive datasets reported to date, encompassing neutralizing responses to SARS-CoV-2, antibodies to 23 pneumococcal serotypes, and immunogenicity across four influenza strains.
Given the antigenic differences among SARS-CoV-2, pneumococcal, and influenza vaccines, direct antigen-specific cross-reactivity would not generally be expected. Nevertheless, nonspecific immunological interactions may occur during co-administration.36 The generally preserved antigen-specific responses observed in this study provide no clear evidence of clinically meaningful immune interference, although mechanistic studies would be required to characterize such interactions directly.
The vaccine landscape has evolved substantially since this trial was conducted in 2021, which should be considered when interpreting the generalizability of our findings. Influenza vaccination strategies have increasingly transitioned from quadrivalent to trivalent formulations following the move away from the B/Yamagata component,37 while higher-valency pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have been incorporated into adult immunization programs in some settings.17 In addition, SARS-CoV-2 variants and corresponding vaccine formulations have continued to evolve.38 Because this trial specifically evaluated WIBP-CorV, IIV4, and PPV23, the findings should not be directly extrapolated to variant-adapted SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, trivalent or alternative-platform influenza vaccines, or newer pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. Differences in antigen composition, vaccine platform, route of administration, and immune mechanisms may influence responses to co-administration. Nevertheless, the preservation of immune responses across the three vaccine targets supports the broader feasibility of multi-pathogen adult vaccination strategies. Further studies incorporating contemporary vaccine formulations are warranted.
Although the WHO declared in May 2023 that COVID-19 no longer constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the organization emphasized that SARS-CoV-2 remains a global health threat, continues to cause deaths, and continues to evolve; countries were therefore cautioned not to scale back preparedness efforts. The WHO further called for the incorporation of COVID-19 vaccination into life-course immunization programs and for the maintenance of sustained emergency readiness.39 Similarly, in November 2025, the US CDC recommended updated 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccines for all individuals aged ≥ 6 months, noting the waning of immunity over time and strongly emphasizing vaccination for adults aged ≥ 65 years and those at high risk.40 Together, these policy positions underscore that, although the acute emergency phase has passed, SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate, and integrated co-administration strategies remain relevant in practice and provide a foundational layer of protection against potential future variants or emerging respiratory pathogens.
The strengths of this study include its large sample size, scientifically grounded age stratification, and the use of rigorous non-inferiority analyses across multiple antigenic endpoints. Nevertheless, several limitations should be acknowledged. Cellular immune responses were not assessed, an aspect that is particularly relevant for older adults. Although participants were prospectively stratified into adults aged 18–59 years and ≥60 years with approximately equal allocation, the findings should be interpreted in the context of the enrolled study population. Because this trial was powered to evaluate non-inferiority rather than age-group differences, the subgroup analyses were exploratory and should not be interpreted as evidence of statistically confirmed differences between younger and older adults. Additional studies including broader and more diverse adult populations are warranted to further evaluate the generalizability of these findings. The study population consisted exclusively of Chinese adults, which may limit generalizability to other demographic or geographic settings. In addition, immunogenicity durability beyond Day 56 was not evaluated. Given the age- and strain-specific non-inferiority findings observed in this study, continued surveillance and adaptive vaccination strategies remain warranted. Future research should further assess the durability of immune responses following co-administration, booster immunogenicity in individuals with prior infection, real-world vaccine effectiveness, and the performance of co-administration strategies using updated vaccine formulations.
In summary, administration of WIBP-CorV with both PPV23 and IIV4 according to the study vaccination schedule (PPV23 on Day 0 and IIV4 on Day 28) preserved immunogenicity and demonstrated an acceptable safety profile, providing important evidence to support integrated respiratory vaccination strategies for adults in the post-pandemic era. These findings should be interpreted in the context of the predefined age groups evaluated in this study.
Supplementary Material
Funding Statement
This study was sponsored by Wuhan Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd. The sponsor participated in study design, study coordination and logistical support. Data analysis and interpretation were conducted by investigators from academic institutions. The sponsor had no role in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. All authors had full access to the study data and approved the final manuscript.
Disclosure statement
Several authors are employees of China National Biotec Group Company Limited and its affiliated companies, including Wuhan Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd., Changchun Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd., and Chengdu Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd. The sponsor had no role in data analysis, interpretation of the results, or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. All other authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
The authors used generative artificial intelligence tools solely for language editing purposes. No AI tools were used for data analysis, data interpretation, figure generation, or any scientific content development. The authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript and take full responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of the work.
Data availability
The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request, subject to applicable privacy and ethical restrictions.
Code availability
The custom code used for statistical analyses is not publicly available but can be obtained from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Ethics statement
Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the ethics committees of the Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Hubei Academy of Preventive Medicine; approval no. 2021–008-02), the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (approval no. 2019V005-E08), and the Henan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (approval no. 2021-YM-008–01). The study was also approved by the China National Human Genetic Resources Administration (approval no. [2021]CJ1085). The trial was conducted in accordance with the principles of Good Clinical Practice and the Declaration of Helsinki, and complied with relevant national regulations. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to enrollment and before any study-related procedures were performed. The trial was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100046227).
Supplemental material
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2026.2747495
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Associated Data
This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.
Supplementary Materials
Data Availability Statement
The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request, subject to applicable privacy and ethical restrictions.
