When Should You Schedule Your Vaccines
Older adults should get their flu shots by the end of October or ideally even sooner, particularly in light of the expected increase in demand for the 202021 winter season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In fact, given the concerns surrounding the pandemic, older adults should make sure they are up to date on all their vaccinations and any booster shots by the end of October, before winter sets in, Privor-Dumm says.
Still, its important to stagger your vaccinations, as getting them all done at one time could lead to complications. Talk to your doctor about setting up a vaccination schedule that works for you.
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Pneumonia Vaccine And Flu Vaccine
You can administer either pneumonia vaccine and the flu shot during the same visit, Dr. Horovitz says.
In general, the CDC recommends pneumonia vaccines for young kids, older adults, and certain at-risk people. Pneumovax protects against 23 common types of pneumococcus, and Prevnar protects against 13 types.
How Do I Know If I Have The Flu Or Covid
Symptoms of COVID and influenza are very similar: fever, headache, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches. So based on symptoms alone you cannot differentiate the flu from COVID and sometimes even from other respiratory viruses. We see respiratory syncytial virus , we see parainfluenza, we see other causes, rhinovirus, many respiratory viruses all cause the same type of symptoms. As a result I expect were going to have to do more testing. Anybody with symptoms would be advised to stay at home and then be tested as as guided by public health.
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But Is It A Good Idea To Get The Flu And Covid
Again, the CDC says youre perfectly fine to go this route. But doctors say you might want to consider a few things before you roll up both sleeves at once.
Both arms might hurt
At a very basic level, you could be dealing with two sore arms, says William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Youll get an inoculation in each arm, he points out. Its OK to do this and your body will deal with it in a perfectly normal way, but do you want to be walking around with two sore arms at once?
Studies havent been done on receiving both shots at once
Dr. Schaffner says its really tough to say what you might feel like or what potential side effects you could experience if you get both vaccines simultaneously. Careful studies havent been done on this, he points out.
Side effects will depend on your past reactions to both vaccines
If youre worried about worsening potential side effects, like a fever or feeling blah, if you get the vaccines together, Dr. Schaffner says that a lot will depend on your previous experience with the vaccines. Meaning, if you tend to get a slight fever after the flu vaccine and you got a fever after your COVID-19 vaccine, theres a decent chance youll experience the same if you get them togetherand possibly even more intensely than if you receive one at a time. Ditto for having a sore arm, or any other side effect.
If Its Flu Season You Can Even Get A Pneumonia Vaccine At The Same Time That You Get A Flu Vaccine As Long As You Receive Each Shot In A Different Arm
Should you get flu shot and pneumonia shot at same time. Health experts have found that influenza predisposes individuals to bacterial pneumonia and this is heightened during influenza pandemics. With pcv13, there is some risk of seizure in young children if they receive the shot at the same time as a flu vaccine. A parent or caregiver should talk to a doctor about the best times to get.
Watanabe suggests getting the shots in locations at least one inch apart if you go that route.) Researchers are working to establish whether the flu jab and a covid vaccine can be given at the same time, as the nhs braces itself for a potential surge in cases of flu this winter. Both pneumococcal and flu vaccines are covered under
Talk to your doctor about a plan to get both of these vaccines. This year, the cdc is recommending that people get their get their flu shot at the same time they receive their first or second vaccine dose, or a booster. Pneumonia and the flu are not the same thing, of course.
In fact, you could even get them at the same time, if theyre offered at the same place. Go to section 7.1 for most brands of the flu vaccine and you will find a version of the following statement: In general, the confusion comes from the change in recommendations as more research was.
Typically, youll get one vaccine, wait a year, and then get the second immunization. Mild problems following ppsv23 can include: Pneumococcal and flu vaccines can be given simultaneously.
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Who Should Get The Vaccine
People over age 65. As you age, your immune system doesnât work as well as it once did. Youâre more likely to have trouble fighting off a pneumonia infection. All adults over age 65 should get the vaccine.
Those with weakened immune systems. Many diseases can cause your immune system to weaken, so itâs less able to fight off bugs like pneumonia.
If you have heart disease, diabetes, emphysema, asthma, or COPD , youâre more likely to have a weakened immune system, which makes you more likely to get pneumonia.
The same goes for people who receive chemotherapy, people who have had organ transplants, and people with HIV or AIDS.
People who smoke. If youâve smoked for a long time, you could have damage to the small hairs that line the insides of your lungs and help filter out germs. When theyâre damaged, they arenât as good at stopping those bad germs.
Heavy drinkers. If you drink too much alcohol, you may have a weakened immune system. Your white blood cells donât work as well as they do for people with a healthy immune system.
People getting over surgery or a severe illness. If you were in the hospital ICU and needed help breathing with a ventilator, youâre at risk of getting pneumonia. The same is true if youâve just had major surgery or if youâre healing from a serious injury. When your immune system is weak because of illness or injury or because itâs helping you get better from surgery, you canât fight off germs as well as you normally can.
Who Should Get Pneumococcal Vaccines
CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all children younger than 2 years old and all adults 65 years or older. In certain situations, older children and other adults should also get pneumococcal vaccines. Below is more information about who should and should not get each type of pneumococcal vaccine.
Talk to your or your childs doctor about what is best for your specific situation.
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Is It Safe To Get A Covid
Yes. When the COVID-19 vaccines were first granted emergency use authorization, the CDC recommended waiting 14 days between getting that and any other vaccine, says Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. This was in order to make sure both vaccines would be effective and to minimize side effects. But the CDC now says that its OK to get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines in the same visit. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, after getting vaccinated and possible side effects of vaccines are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines, the CDC says online.
Theres no restriction on any vaccination co-administration, says Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. This makes it more convenient.
Vaccines For Children Program
The Vaccines for Children Program provides vaccines to children whose parents or guardians may not be able to afford them. A child is eligible if they are younger than 19 years old and meets one of the following requirements:
- Medicaid-eligible
- American Indian or Alaska Native
- Underinsured
If your child is VFC-eligible, ask if your doctor is a VFC provider. For help in finding a VFC provider near you, contact your state or local health departments VFC Program Coordinator or call CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO .
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What To Do If Your Older Parent Or Relative Is Unwilling Or Unable To Get Vaccinated
Now, what if your older parent wont, or cant, get a flu shot?
Some older adults just dont want to get it. Here are some things you can try:
- Ask them to clarify what their concerns are. Its important to start by listening, in order to understand what an older person believes about the flu and the flu shot.
- Provide information to dispel myths and misunderstandings. Sometimes all people need is a little of the right kind of information.
- Point out that it can benefit an older persons family members and neighbors. Getting a flu shot can reduce the risk that we pass the flu on to another person. People are sometimes more willing to take action to protect others than to protect their own health.
- Make sure they know they wont have to pay for the flu shot. If you get the shot from a provider who takes Medicare, it shouldnt cost anything.
- Offer to go together to get your flu shots. Sometimes it helps to make it a family outing.
There are also some older adults for whom its hard to get a flu shot, such as people who are homebound or have very limited transportation options.
If this is your situation, the main thing to do is encourage flu shots for family and others coming to the house. For older adults who dont get out much, their main source of exposure to influenza and other dangerous viruses will be from those who come to them.
Above all, dont panic if your older loved one cant or wont get a flu shot.
Dr Frank Mcgeorge Answers Covid Questions
Frank McGeorge, MD, Local 4’s Good Health Medical Expert
DETROIT Since the coronavirus pandemic began, Dr. Frank McGeorge has been keeping viewers up-to-date and informed on all fronts. Hes been answering your questions about the vaccine, the vaccination process and more.
This week, Dr. McGeorge is addressing concerns about getting vaccinated for COVID-19 — especially those eligible for boosters — and receiving a flu shot at the same time.
Can you get a COVID-19 booster shot and a flu vaccine at the same time?
Yes, you can get your COVID booster and flu shot at the same time.
Thats a change from the advice originally given when the COVID vaccines were introduced. At that time, it was recommended that you wait 14 days between receiving the COVID vaccine and the flu shot.
Now that we know more about the COVID vaccines side effects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has given the green light for getting the COVID vaccine with another vaccine during the same appointment.
Can I get my flu shot and COVID-19 booster shot in the same arm?
Most people prefer to get the shots in different arms, but you can get them in the same arm, if you choose.
In that case, the injection sites should be separated by at least one inch.
Will I have more side effects if I get both shots at the same time?
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Can Be Given With Other Vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines may be administered without regard to timing of other vaccines. This means COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered with the influenza vaccine during the same visit. Giving all vaccines for which a person is eligible at the same visit is a best practice as it increases the probability people will be up to date on recommended vaccines.
But there are a few rare exceptions to the allowance of simultaneous vaccination. These instances generally involve children who have conditions such as asplenia, complement component deficiency or HIV infection. This is limited to PCV13 and Menactra vaccines, according to the CDC COCA webinar.
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What Are Common Flu Vaccine Side Effects To Expect
According to the CDC, you may experience short-lived, minor side effects of the flu shot or nasal spray vaccineas is the case with any vaccination or medication. You might think that side effects are a bad thing, but theyre actually signs that your immune system is responding and getting ready to protect you.
Heres how it works: The flu shot contains inactivated or incomplete strains of the influenza virus, while the nasal spray contains live attenuated strains. Neither form of the vaccine contains live flu viruses that can thrive in your body.
When you get any type of vaccine, the whole purpose is to expose your immune system to the virus, infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, tells SELF. Your immune system will start to rev up in response. These dead, partial, and weakened viruses are enough to provoke your immune system to develop antibodies to guard you against live and threatening flu viruses. It usually takes about two weeks for those to kick in and offer you protection, per the CDC.
Sometimes your immune system does this without causing noticeable symptoms, but other times, youll experience a few minor side effects as a result. Here are the most common ones you might experience:
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About Author: Ken Harris
Ken Harris is the proudest father and a writing coordinator for the Marketing & Communications division of OSF HealthCare.He has a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked as a daily newspaper reporter for four years before leaving the field and eventually finding his way to OSF HealthCare.In his free time, Ken likes reading, fly fishing, hanging out with his dog and generally pestering his lovely, patient wife.
What This Means For You
As flu season approaches, the CDC is advising people to get their flu shot by the end of October. If you have not yet received all your initial COVID vaccine dose or doses, or if you are eligible for a booster dose, its safe to get both vaccines on the same day.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.
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Should People With Cancer Get Any Vaccines
Its generally recommended that vaccines not be given during chemo or radiation treatments the only exception to this is the flu shot. This is mainly because vaccines need an immune system response to work, and you may not get an adequate response during cancer treatment.
The immune system is a group of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to resist infection by germs, such as bacteria or viruses. Cancer and cancer treatment can weaken a persons immune system so that it wont work as well as it should. Its important to know which vaccines are safe for people with weak immune systems. Before receiving any vaccines, talk to your doctor about your cancer, cancer treatment, risk factors for the vaccine-preventable disease, whether you need the vaccine, and the best time for you to get it.
Vaccines, which are also called immunizations or vaccinations, are used to help a persons immune system recognize and fight certain infections or diseases.
The Importance Of Getting Both Vaccines
Andrew Pavia, MD, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Utah Health and a spokesperson at the Infectious Diseases Society of America, tells Verywell that with flu season on its way and about 90 million Americans still unvaccinated against COVID-19, the new guidance is important because it can increase the chance that someone coming in for one of the vaccines who also needs the other, will get it.
Infectious disease experts like Pavia worry that the few flu cases that were reported last yearlikely because of the lockdown, which meant all offices and schools were closedmight lead people to believe that they do not need flu shots for the 2021-2022 season. Thats far from the case, however.
We just dont know what the flu season will be like this year, says Pavia. And you could be risking severe illness or death, especially if you get COVID-19 at the same time, so we really need people to get both vaccines.
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Pay Attention To Vaccine Placement
When administering the flu and COVID-19 vaccine together, they should be given in different sites on the arm separated by an inch or more if possible. If a local reaction does occur, the physician can identify which vaccine may have been responsible. But physicians should make sure to document the precise location in the patients chart for reference if they are unable to see the patient when they report the adverse reaction.
Additionally, if COVID-19 vaccines are administered at the same time as flu vaccines that might be more likely to cause a local reactionsuch as adjuvanted or high-dose inactivated influenza vaccinesthey should be administered in separate limbs if possible. The deltoid is the preferred site, but the anterolateral thigh may be used as an alternate site, according to the CDC COCA webinar. CDC has extensive guidance for health care providers on coadministration of vaccines.
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