It’s Flu Season, but the Pandemic is still the #1 Priority. Is it OK to get the Flu Shot and COVID-19 Vaccine at the same time?

Health magazine reports that, not only is it safe to get both shots at the same time, experts like Cassandra M. Pierre, MD, MPH, an infectious disease physician and medical director of public health programs at Boston Medical Center, actually recommend doubling up if you haven’t had either vaccine yet or you’re due for your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to help prevent the spread of both diseases in the community.

While people are just starting to get these two particular vaccines at the same time, getting multiple immunizations in one appointment isn’t a new practice. For example, Gigi Gronvall, PhD, Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, said in an interview with Health that kids routinely get several shots—for example, the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines—at the same appointment. So introducing multiple viruses to the body at once doesn’t impact how well your immune system can protect you from them. “Your immune system is capable of chewing gum and walking at the same time,” Gronvall says.

In other words: it’s unlikely your body would struggle to create an immune response to influenza because it was mounting one to COVID-19, or vice versa. According to the CDC, immunogenicity—the ability of a vaccine to promote an immune response—and adverse events are generally similar whether one shot or multiple shots are given. Dr. Pierre says the same principle applies to both COVID-19 doses and likely will apply when the CDC starts recommending COVID -19 booster shots, too.

Either way, it’s not likely you’ll feel significantly worse after getting both shots than you would had you just gotten one. Nicolas Barros, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Indiana University Health, said in the interview with Health that he suggests using different limbs, if possible, to avoid having a localized pain reaction on the same limb from two vaccines. And while Gronvall says you may feel crummy, especially if you typically feel crummy after vaccines, getting two vaccines doesn’t mean you should feel double the side effects.

“So far, with people who have gotten both, there are no significant changes in side effects,” says Dr. Barros.

In general, Dr. Pierre says doctors recommend getting a flu vaccine near the beginning of flu season, which usually occurs from September to May. Gronvall suggests getting the flu shot by the end of October. But because it’s important as many people get the COVID-19 vaccine as possible, there’s no problem with knocking both out at one appointment, and doing so as soon as possible. “Now is a fine time to go get a flu vaccine, especially if you can go get both of the vaccines,” Dr. Pierre says. Just keep in mind special populations, like older people or immunocompromised individuals, may need a flu booster later on in the season, so talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about the timing.

No matter when you go, try to get both shots if you haven’t been vaccinated already. Last year, because most people were staying home more, wearing masks, and physically distancing in public, the US had very low numbers of influenza cases compared to previous years. Now, as a more transmissible variant of COVID-19 continues to surge and this year’s flu season approaches, Dr. Pierre says it’s ideal to seek protection against both. “We’re really concerned about the resurfacing of influenza at a time when COVID-19 is rising,” she says. “People are busy, so it’s expedient to try to cut down on the number of appointments you have and just get both at once.”

In the future, you may be able to get both the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines all in one shot; Dr. Pierre says several vaccine manufacturers are currently working on making co-vaccines. For now, though, you can get two jabs—ideally at the same appointment.

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