Covid vaccine/flu jab - timing in between

[StillRunningWithScissors]

DH has just got the alert he can have his next Covid vaccine. Great, booked in nice and quick.

But, has his flu vaccine scheduled a few days later.

Is this an issue? I know you can receive both at the same time (not possible in this case), can't find anything online about it. I seem to recall there was a set amount if time between the two when the Covid vaccines first came out.

Anyone know the current guidelines?

Thank you!

I have just had mine both at the same time. If I am going to have side effects might as well get them out of the way all at once. I have had flu and covid jabs previously with very minimal side effects though.

Our GP said it was up to patients whether they had flu and covid jabs at the same time or whether they wanted to wait. So it sounds like there’s no problem with having them done either together or a few days apart. I had mine two days apart but only because I was passing the chemist and it was empty so decided to get the flu one out the way first.

HCP and vaccinator here.

You can have both the covid jab and the flu jab at the same time.

However, if you choose to have them separately they should be given 7 days apart.

You can them at the same appointment as there is no minimum time to wait between. Originally it was 2 weeks so the side effect profile could be built up but they know now so it's fine.

Brilliant, thank you both.

Basically just wanted to know if they would refuse him his flu jab or not. He's happy to have them close together

I had my flu jab on the Monday and my covid booster on the following Sunday. The nurse said there was no problem at all with that gap - I asked specifically.

I had both at the same time. No issue at all.

I had my flu jab on a Saturday and the covid on the Tuesday. I wanted them in the same arm and was told it is 2 days apart for same arm jabs.

@hashbrownsandwich - that’s not quite accurate. The Green Book says a seven day interval need only to be observed between the Novavax Covid vaccine and the flu vaccine. See this extract from page 36:

“…administration of Novavax COVID-19 vaccine should be separated from administration of influenza vaccine by at least 7 days.
With the exception of this, as COVID-19 vaccines are considered inactivated (including the non-replicating adenovirus vaccine), where individuals in an eligible cohort present having recently received one or more inactivated or another live vaccine, COVID-19 vaccination should still be given. The same applies for most other live and inactivated vaccines where COVID-19 vaccination has been received first or where a patient presents requiring two or more vaccines. It is generally better for vaccination to proceed to avoid any further delay in protection and to avoid the risk of the patient not returning for a later appointment“.

I had not heard this before.
I wonder if this is asked when people go for their flu jab.
I will find out tomorrow when I get my flu jab. I had my covid booster last Friday.

I wanted mine spaced out so that if I did get side effects I would know from which vaccine they were from.
Had covid one last week and had a proper dead arm for 24hrs and a rotten nights sleep (that could be other things obv). Always been fine with flu one - maybe just a bit coldy (but since DS2 went back to school in Sept I think I've felt coldy most of the time - horrid germy kids!(

I had both at the same time, this year and last. Had slightly sore arms but that was it. So I assume there's no 'guidance' on this

This isn’t exactly correct.

You can have them at any interval, except Novavax (one of the Covid vaccines) and flu, and shingles vaccine and flu which should have a 7 day interval.

You can give Pfizer and AstraZeneca covid vaccines at any time around a flu (and most other) vaccines.

Sorry I hadn’t read the full thread and seen @Wigeon reply.

Interesting, as I've just booked mine. They are 4 days apart and the Surgery said that is fine - no issue.

I had my flu jab last Tuesday and my COVID booster (Pfizer) this Tuesday, hasn't been much fun for me, but they didn't have a problem with it.

Interesting to see these responses. I'll question it with my superiors.

@hashbrownsandwich its in the green book, so they need to update their protocols and practice!