Should You Get the Flu Shot and COVID Booster at the Same Time? Doctors Share the Pros and Cons
With COVID cases expected to go up in the winter months, we’re all thinking about what we can do to prepare to stay healthy and safe. One of the best preventative measures is getting the new bivalent booster, according to health experts.
Since the flu will also be a cause for concern, many of us are thinking about when to get the flu shot and, more specifically, how to time when we receive both the COVID booster and the flu shot.
It is important to get both shots for multiple reasons.
“We predict that we will have a resurgence of influenza cases this year after a several-year hiatus. There is also the likely possibility of another wave of COVID-19 cases driven by the new variants at some point later this fall or winter,” says Dr. James Cutrell, MD, an infectious disease specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “Therefore, to help protect themselves and their loved ones, it is important for people to use the preventive strategies available, including both the annual influenza vaccine and the new bivalent COVID booster vaccines when eligible.”
Related: What Are the Side Effects of the Bivalent Booster? Here's What Doctors Want You to Expect
Does the Timing of When You Get the Shots Matter?
If you plan on getting both, if it has been at least two months since your last COVID-19 vaccine booster, and you have not recently had COVID-19, you can get both the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine at the same time, Dr. Erica Johnson, MD, Chair of the Infectious Disease Board at the American Board of Internal Medicine, explains. If you choose to separate them, that's okay too, but for many, it's easier to make one trip to the pharmacy or other vaccine administration site and get both together.
However, if there is a reason to delay getting the COVID-19 bivalent booster, for example, if it's not quite two months since your last booster, or if you are recently recovered from COVID, then Dr. Johnson recommends getting the flu vaccine now and getting the COVID booster when it is recommended for you, based on advice from your medical provider or pharmacist.
The reason for this? We're already seeing flu transmission, and it takes about two weeks after administration before the flu vaccine is fully effective, so it’s important to get this right away even if you may need to wait a few more weeks or months to optimally time your COVID booster.
The timing of the influenza vaccine is based on the seasonality of the disease, with the start of influenza season usually around October and running through March, Dr. Cutrell says. In many areas of the country, we are already seeing higher-than-normal rates of influenza for this time of year,
"The current CDC guidance is to consider the bivalent booster at least two months after the last COVID-19 vaccine for those who are eligible," Dr. Cutrell adds. "If an individual has recently had COVID-19, they can consider delaying up to three months after that infection before getting the bivalent booster."
Related: How Long After Having COVID Are You Actually Protected Against Infection?
The Benefits of Getting Both Shots at the Same Time
The primary benefit of getting both vaccines together is patient convenience and not missing an opportunity to receive both shots. Because many individuals do not frequently visit their doctor’s office, we do not want to miss an opportunity to get these important vaccines completed, Dr. Cutrell states. So if you are eligible and both vaccines are available, the easiest thing to do is to get both done at the same time.
"We also know from studies performed during the prior years of the COVID-19 pandemic that it is safe to receive both vaccines at the same time and it does not negatively impact the effectiveness of the vaccines," Dr. Cutrell explains.
The Drawbacks of Getting Both Shots at the Same Time
The major drawback is that there is a slightly higher risk of short-term, temporary side effects such as fatigue, headache, body aches or sore arm in those who received them at the same time, Dr. Cutrell states.
A recent CDC study suggested about a 10% increased rate of these side effects in those who received an influenza and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time compared to only the COVID-19 vaccine.
However, most reactions were mild and resolved quickly. If you decide to separate the vaccinations, be sure to schedule your follow-up visit to receive the other vaccine in a timely manner, Dr. Cutrell adds.
Some people will experience side effects with the COVID booster, particularly if they experienced these side effects with previous doses of the vaccine. "These side effects may include fatigue, muscle pain, headache, fever, pain at the vaccine site and swollen or tender lymph nodes under the arm where you received the vaccine," Dr. Johnson explains.
Next up: There's a New Omicron-Specific Booster—Here's Everything You Need to Know About It
Sources
Dr. James Cutrell, an infectious disease specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dr. Erica Johnson, MD, Chair of the Infectious Disease Board at the American Board of Internal Medicine
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Reactogenicity of Simultaneous COVID-19 mRNA Booster and Influenza Vaccination in the US”
