CAMBRIDGE, MASS. (WHDH) - A local company is working to create a less intrusive vaccine for both COVID-19 and the flu.

The National Institutes of Health have given Cambridge-based Vaxess a grant to research a patch version of the coronavirus vaccine that would work on seasonal flus as well.

“What we’re looking to do is combine COVID and flu vaccines in a single patch that would get mailed directly to your house every fall, and then you’re protected from both diseases throughout the duration of the year,” said Vaxess CEO Michael Schrader.

Schrader said the patch would be self-applied to the patient’s forearm for five minutes and thrown away afterward.

“I think you’ve got some folks who do have needle-phobia. We think we’re going to be able to get them over the hump with our product,” Schrader said.

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