Can flu and COVID-19 vaccines be received at the same time?
Yes, they can be administered in the same visit.
When the United States began putting the drug against the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, for its acronym in English) recommended waiting 14 days between that and any other vaccine as a precautionary measure.
But the agency has since reviewed its recommendation and says the wait is unnecessary.
The CDC and other health experts noted that experience shows that vaccines work well and that side effects are similar whether given separately or at the same visit.
“We have a history of vaccinating our children with various vaccines,” said Richard Webby, flu specialist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Staying up-to-date with vaccinations will be especially important this year, experts say.
As the population wore a mask and was at home, last year’s flu season was barely non-existent. This year, with many venues reopened, it is unclear how intense it will be.
“The concern is that if they both circulate at the same time, we are going to have this kind of ‘double pandemic,'” Webby added. “The concern with that is that it’s going to put extra pressure on an already under pressure health care system.”
The CDC recommends the flu vaccine for everyone over the age of six months, and ideally they should receive it before the end of October. It takes between 10 and 14 days for it to take full effect, so if you wait until the virus begins to circulate, the body will not have time to arm its protection.
Vaccination options vary by age, but include several types of injections or a version with a nasal spray.
One word of caution: COVID-19, colds, and the flu share similar symptoms, so if you’re unwell, the CDC asks that you delay your vaccination appointment until you’re better to avoid spreading it to others.
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