It’s safe to get both vaccines at the same time.
Some may choose to separate the doses. Whatever you choose, get both!
Almost everyone is due for a vaccine this fall. Flu vaccines are recommended every year for people 6 months of age and older. People over age 11 who have not had a COVID-19 vaccine in the last 2 months are now eligible for the new Omicron COVID-19 booster. If you have never had a COVID-19 vaccine, you can start your series now with one of the original formulations.
There are no safety reasons to separate your flu and COVID-19 vaccines. It’s quite common to give more than one vaccine at the same time. If you want to get your fall vaccines out of the way in one trip, you can certainly get both at the same time. This is the quickest and simplest way to get up to date on your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. People who didn’t feel a thing after their last COVID-19 dose may go for the double shot. If scheduling multiple medical appointments for yourself or loved ones is complicated, it’s absolutely safe to get both shots at the same time.
It’s also acceptable to get the doses separately. If you experienced uncomfortable symptoms like body aches or fatigue after your last COVID-19 or flu vaccine, you may decide doubling up in the same visit is not for you. The most important factor to consider when you separate the shots is making a plan to go back for the second one! There is no recommended length of time to wait between the two vaccines if you are eligible for both. We recommend scheduling them both at a time convenient for you and following through on your plans. Many pharmacies, provider offices, and community centers offer convenient options for vaccination during the fall. Those Nerdy Girls would love to see more vaccine clinics in the places people live, work, and play.
It doesn’t matter much which one you get first if you are separating the doses. Again, the idea is to get both soon – before you potentially come in contact with the viruses. COVID-19 infections outnumber flu cases in most of the US at this time. If you haven’t had a recent COVID-19 infection and it’s been more than 2 months since your last booster, you could start with a COVID-19 vaccine and follow up in a week or two with a flu shot. If you recently had a COVID-19 infection or vaccine, you may opt to get your flu shot now and follow up with your COVID-19 booster shortly after. Either way, the space between your flu and COVID-19 vaccines should be measured in days or weeks and not months.
Upcoming travel, scheduled indoor activities, and the start of school are all very good reasons to make a plan to receive your flu and COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. With cooler weather and increased time in shared indoor space on the horizon, the incidence of COVID-19 and flu are expected to increase. Protect yourself by getting two safe and effective vaccines as a pair or one at a time.
———————————————
