Is It Safe to Get the Flu Shot and the COVID-19 Booster At The Same Time?
Written by Leslie K. Hughes
Flu season is in full swing. And it isn’t going to be any easier on us this year, despite the global pandemic we are still in the midst of.
The flu doesn’t rest for anyone, so the CDC recommends that you get vaccinated for the flu as soon as possible. Everyone over the age of 6 months is recommended to get the vaccine.
The 2020-2021 flu season was “unusually low,” as stated by the CDC. The United States had 0.2% of tested specimens show up as positive for the flu, while in previous years the numbers hover around 26-30%.
There are a few possible reasons as to why the flu cases last year were a mere fraction of what they typically are.
One is likely that quarantine mandates were still strict in many parts of the world, and people, for the most part, were staying at home as much as possible. In addition to that, people who were going out in public were wearing masks and were extra diligent about washing their hands. Another big factor that contributed to the lower flu cases is the lack of travel due to COVID worries and restrictions.
However, this year will be different. The world has opened up, travel is more common, and people are not quarantining like they were a year ago. This means the 2021-2022 flu season is expected to see much higher numbers than last year, so it’s best to prepare.
To stay as healthy as possible this flu season, many people are flocking to get their flu shots. However, before getting the jab, many people are wondering whether they can kill two birds with one stone and get both the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time.
According to the CDC, it is safe to get the flu vaccine at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine, which also includes a COVID-19 booster shot.
However, it is important to note that the CDC also states that there is limited data on giving COVID-19 vaccines along with other vaccines (including the flu), but that “experience with giving other vaccines together has shown the way our bodies develop protection and possible side effects are generally similar whether vaccines are given alone or with other vaccines.”
Moderna is in the process of creating a shot that gives the COVID-19 booster and the flu vaccine in one shot, as opposed to people needing two separate shots to protect them against both viruses.
Until then, the CDC recommends that you get your flu vaccine to protect you against the virus this season.
In short, it is safe for you to get the flu shot and your COVID-19 booster at the same time.
