A: Sure can!
The COVID-19 vaccine can now be given with other vaccines. This is a change from the old recommendation that said to wait 2 weeks between the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines. Don’t delay and catch up on those vaccines!
Initially, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that the COVID-19 vaccine be given all by its lonesome, at least 2 weeks apart from other vaccines. This recommendation came from an “abundance of caution” because the COVID-19 vaccine had not been studied when given with other vaccines (not because there were any safety concerns).
With over 275 million doses given in the US (WOW!) there is LOTS of data showing how safe and effective the vaccines are. While not specifically studied, there is every reason to think that the COVID-19 vaccine will maintain its safety and ability to stimulate an immune response. In fact, other vaccines are given together all the time and these vaccines are still safe and effective.
The COVID-19 vaccine can now be given without worrying about if another vaccine was recently given or will be due soon. This is great news. In general, vaccine rates dropped a lot during the pandemic, and this will help us catch up and prevent outbreaks of vaccine preventable illnesses (like measles).
The COVID-19 vaccines are “reactogenic,” which means that many people experience physical symptoms of the immune system kicking in and ramping up, like headache, fatigue, fever, or sore arms. We don’t know if giving the COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccines will increase that reactogenicity. While that wouldn’t be dangerous, it could feel lousy. If people are just not up for that, they may wish to space out their vaccines by a couple of weeks. Some vaccines might be higher risk for more symptoms after vaccination if given together, because they are also highly reactogenic (this includes tetanus and shingles shots). Those reactogenic vaccines would be given in a different arm than the COVID-19 vaccine if possible.
When choosing if you want to get a vaccine at the same time, ask your primary care clinician if you are behind in shots, the risks of getting a vaccine preventable illness, and what you can do to manage common symptoms after vaccination.
As always, stay safe out there!
Those Nerdy Girls
Links:
CDC Recommendations
