It’s that time of year once more: flu season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, incidences normally begin to increase in October, with the height of the season occurring in December through February.
And, once again, we are dealing with not just the flu, but also the COVID-19 pandemic, which means there is an increased danger of serious sickness from both viruses as we enter the winter months.
As a result, it’s critical that you have your COVID immunizations and flu shots up to date. Especially now that a bivalent COVID vaccine that protects against the more infectious omicron form is available.
Can you cross two items off your to-do list at the same time and obtain these photos on the same day? Here’s everything you need to know about receiving the new COVID booster as well as the flu vaccination at the same time.
“Getting the new COVID booster with the flu vaccination at the same time poses no risk.” Dr. Andy Anderson, executive vice president, and chief medical and quality officer at RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey, stated that getting both vaccinations in one visit is safe.
If you do decide to have your vaccinations on the same day, he recommends getting one shot in each arm.
This is advantageous since you will be protected from both infections sooner rather than later.
“By providing them concurrently, we are more likely to guarantee that individuals are protected against both of these diseases,” said Dr. Laolu Fayanju, an Oak Street Health family medicine expert in Ohio. “Influenza and COVID are both circulating.”
He highlighted that if you have both vaccinations on the same day, you would be protected against serious sickness and consequences such as hospitalization and death sooner. Keep in mind that both immunizations take two weeks to completely take effect.
This is vital for everyone, but especially for individuals at high risk of severe sicknesses, such as the elderly, those with asthma, and others, who should be protected against both illnesses as soon as possible.
“When combined, [the new COVID booster and flu shot] exhibit comparable reactogenicity, which refers to the body’s natural response to vaccinations,” Fayanju added.
In other words, the vaccination side effects you’re probably familiar with (headache, fever, weariness, achiness) are known to occur with both doses. If you get the injections on the same day, you’ll just have to deal with the adverse effects once rather than twice.
“The CDC states that the way our systems acquire protection and associated adverse effects are largely similar whether immunizations are given alone or in combination with other vaccines,” Anderson noted
Furthermore, you will only experience vaccination adverse effects once.
“When combined, [the new COVID booster and flu shot] exhibit comparable reactogenicity, which refers to the body’s natural response to vaccinations,” Fayanju added.
In other words, the vaccination side effects you’re probably familiar with (headache, fever, weariness, achiness) are known to occur with both doses. If you get the injections on the same day, you’ll just have to deal with the adverse effects once rather than twice.
“The CDC states that the way our systems acquire protection and associated adverse effects are largely similar whether immunizations are given alone or in combination with other vaccines,” Anderson noted.
This implies that if you get two doses on the same day, your side effects would most likely be the same, according to Anderson. Having said that, it is still possible to feel awful following immunization. Make sure you drink, get enough rest, and be prepared to rest the next day if you wake up feeling sick.
It will also save time.
Going to the doctor’s office isn’t usually the most enjoyable part of your day, and you probably have a lot of other things to do as well. However, if you can have both vaccines at the same time, you’ll only have to go to the doctor once, rather than twice, for these doses.
Make an appointment with your doctor to get both doses.
While both experts agree that getting your immunizations at the same time is safe, you should still consult with your doctor if you have any concerns. Some folks may not be qualified for both injections right now.
The flu vaccination is suggested for most individuals in September or October, according to Anderson, but the new COVID booster relies on a few factors:
First, people who have recently had a COVID booster or their original immunization should wait at least two months before receiving this new COVID dose. Furthermore, patients who have recently undergone COVID may have to wait up to three months for this booster.
The new Pfizer injection is legal for anyone aged 12 and up.
If you fall into one of these groups, don’t put off getting your flu vaccination merely to save time. In this instance, you should first protect yourself against the flu.
Remember that weak public health safeguards may result in a more severe flu season.
Flu cases were minimal during the peak of the epidemic. This is most likely due to the public health precautions in place, such as masking and social separation. Flu cases are anticipated to increase now that such protections are no longer in place in most settings.
Furthermore, Australia experienced a severe flu season this year, and “we can learn a lot from how our flu seasons here in the Northern Hemisphere will go based on what’s been going on in the Southern Hemisphere,” Fayanju added.
As a result, it would not be surprising if we too experienced a difficult flu season.
“Every year, flu kills tens of thousands of people,” Fayanju stated. The flu vaccination is the most effective approach to protect yourself and your loved ones against the illness.
Aside from that, COVID has killed over a million Americans and continues to infect people on a regular basis. This autumn and winter, being immunized against these dangerous COVID strains and the flu will only benefit you. Read at the new york times
COVID-19 is still a mystery to experts. The material in this report reflects what was known or accessible at the time of publishing, but it is subject to change as scientists learn more about the virus. For the latest recent advice, please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Experts believe October is the greatest time to get COVID boosters and flu vaccines.
With doctor’s offices and pharmacies now giving seasonal flu vaccinations and updated COVID-19 boosters, doctors advise Americans to get both, with October being the optimum month.
While specialists believe October is a great time to enhance immunity, they also emphasize the necessity of being vaccinated whenever possible. Experts believe it’s safe for patients to have both doses at the same time for increased convenience.
Dr. Ashish Jha, White House COVID coordinator, told ABC News that the optimal time to obtain a newly revised COVID-19 booster is “no later than the end of October for maximal protection,” which corresponds to flu vaccination scheduling recommendations.
According to Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, October is the “Goldilocks time” for flu shots. Anyone who receives the flu vaccine in September, however, should be protected for the flu season, which normally lasts until March.
“I guess my overall recommendation would be to obtain it when it’s convenient,” Chin-Hong remarked.
Experts also advise not to be concerned if you cannot receive your flu vaccination before Halloween.
“If you can’t get a flu vaccination by the end of October for whatever reason, it’s not too late,” said Dr. Alok Patel, a pediatrician at Stanford Children’s Health and an ABC News medical contributor.
Is a bad flu season on the way?
Following two years of modest activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, several specialists believe that the seasonal influenza virus will be back in full force this season.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a normal pre-pandemic year would see roughly 8% of the US population ill with flu. Deaths can reach 50,000, as they most recently did in the 2017-2018 season.
“People above the age of 65 are, of course, of particular interest to us. They make up roughly 15-17% of the population yet account for 80% of [flu] fatalities and hospitalizations “Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, agreed.
However, even young, otherwise healthy people benefit from the flu vaccination, which also reduces the danger of the virus spreading to others.
“A lesser risk does not imply that there is no danger. Getting immunized significantly reduces your chances of becoming the dreaded spreader “Schaffner explained.
Meanwhile, getting the flu not only ruins holiday plans but also frequently causes unpleasant symptoms that endure for many days.
“It’s obviously not a stroll in the park for someone who’s had the flu,” Chin-Hong added.
Getting vaccinated in October or early November is excellent because “[you want] your yearly immunization to last throughout winter, well into February into March, and even into April,” according to Schaffner.
“The only other possible difference in scheduling would be for pregnant women,” Chin-Hong remarked. He noted that pregnant women may want to attempt to get a flu vaccination before giving birth so that the newborn can benefit from the mother’s antibodies, especially because infants under the age of six cant be vaccinated.
According to experts, flu vaccines for children may be especially crucial this year due to worries about how the loosening of pandemic-era restrictions may affect youngsters.
“Given that schools are back in session, COVID-19 limitations have been relaxed, and students are back to their usual rowdy selves,” Patel added, “[they] are in danger of acquiring influenza this year.” “Parents should not treat influenza as though it were an ordinary cold.
Every year, thousands of children are hospitalized due to influenza, with small infants and children with underlying medical issues being the most vulnerable.”
COVID-19 boosters that have been updated may also become yearly shots.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first improved COVID-19 booster doses, marking the first significant advancement in COVID-19 vaccinations. Because COVID-19 protection decreases slowly over time, the White House has previously said that variant-specific COVID vaccinations, akin to seasonal flu vaccines, may become an annual reality.
The new COVID-19 boosters are intended to be a better match against presently circulating COVID-19 variations, and are now allowed for anybody aged 12 and above who received their previous COVID-19 injection at least two months ago.
According to the CDC, those who have already been infected with COVID may consider waiting 90 days before obtaining their booster vaccine. According to Dr. Peter Marks, the chief of the FDA’s section responsible for ensuring vaccination safety and efficacy, the approval of revised boosters for younger children is likely in “a matter of weeks.”
Although it is unclear whether there will be another COVID-19 spike this autumn, more than 350 individuals continue to die from COVID-19 every day. According to the CDC, persons over the age of 65 are 60 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than young adults. The death rate for people over the age of 85 is 340 times greater.
Is getting the COVID booster and flu vaccine at the same time safe?
According to experts, receiving your COVID booster and flu vaccine at the same time will not impair your body’s ability to fight either infection.
“If you give the body two signals, it will not produce less [immunity] because it will be focused on another signal,” Chin-Hong explained.
Can you get the flu and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time?
People can receive the COVID-19 vaccination as well as other immunizations, including the flu vaccine, at the same time.
What is an Omicron booster vaccine called?
Moderna and Pfizer start rolling out omicron boosters. The injections, dubbed bivalent vaccinations, are intended to target both the original coronavirus strain and the presently circulating omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
When should you get the Omicron COVID-19 booster?
The FDA established a two-month minimum wait time. However, other CDC advisors believe it may be best to wait longer. Some health professionals believe that waiting up to six months between boosters is preferable.
What are the side effects of the new COVID-19 booster?
According to the CDC, side effects are not expected to differ from those associated with the existing vaccination, which includes redness and swelling at the injection site, as well as occasional tiredness, headache, and muscular pain. Serious responses are uncommon.
What are some symptoms of the COVID-19 Omicron subvariant?
In comparison to other SARS-CoV-2 variations, the Omicron variant is associated with milder symptoms such as tiredness, cough, headache, sore throat, or a runny nose.
Is runny nose & sore throat a key symptom of COVID-19 Omicron subvariant BA.2?
While these symptoms aren’t usually a reason for alarm, a runny nose, and sore throat are also major signs of the now-dominant omicron subvariant of COVID-19, BA.2, leaving many patients wondering whether their symptoms are caused by allergies or COVID-19.
What is the difference between a booster shot and an additional shot of COVID-19?
For patients who have been vaccinated but have not had a robust enough immune response, an extra main dosage of a COVID-19 vaccine is advised. A booster dosage, on the other hand, is indicated for persons who have been vaccinated but whose immune response has diminished over time.
Are booster shots the same as initial in COVID-19 vaccines?
The booster dose for the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccinations is the same as the first dose. It is a half dosage of the Moderna vaccination.