The flu season is fast approaching, and many people will find themselves lining up in clinics to get their flu shots. But at the time of COVID when everyone is encouraged to get the coronavirus jabs, is it safe to take the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine on the same day?

On Sunday, a vaccination event at First Timothy Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida offered attendees both the novel coronavirus vaccines and the flu shot at the same time. As the world is still figuring out the most efficient way to deal with COVID, many might be apprehensive about taking any of the coronavirus vaccines and the influenza shot on the same day.

What The CDC Is Saying

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated in its vaccination guidelines that the administration of other vaccines and the COVID-19 jabs “may now be administered without regard or timing,” suggesting that the simultaneous dispensing of the two very different vaccines in the human body is allowed and should not be a cause for concern.

However, the CDC has stipulated in its guidelines that healthcare personnel should always consult the current influenza vaccine recommendations issued by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for specific vaccines before administering the flu shot alongside the COVID-19 vaccines.

The public health agency also urged all eligible people to get the influenza shots during the flu season to reduce the overall burden of respiratory illnesses. Frontline workers, essential workers and persons with high risk of developing severe COVID-19 are among those being encouraged by the CDC to get immunized against the influenza viruses.

An Infectious Disease Specialist’s Take

For infectious disease specialist Dr. Mohammed Reza, taking caution is a must when getting the two vaccines together. The medical practitioner said in an interview with News4Jax that for people who have had a history or reaction, they should speak with their physicians first. Reza also noted that waiting for the 14-day period to end after taking one of the vaccines is also a good idea.

Should one really find themselves getting both the COVID vaccine and the flu shot at the same time, Reza suggested getting the jabs in different arms since each of them can lead to some type of localized pain. In the end, Reza advised everyone to get the COVID vaccine first should they decide on getting one vaccine at a time.

“It is early in the flu season to get the flu vaccine right now, so if you’re going to get one, or the other, get the COVID-19 for the time being because we’re looking at flu season in September/October and that flu vaccine doesn’t last all year long. If you’re going to get one, I would get the COVID-19 vaccine for sure,” Reza said.

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