Can I have my vaccine if I have a cold?

[Covidandacold]

As the title suggests, I have my vaccine booked and I have a cold. No COVID symptoms - just a sniffle and feeling a bit tired. Does this prevent me from having the vaccine. I’ve tried googling, but I’m none the wiser.

They will ask you if you have any symptoms and if you are feeling well and some places do a temperature check, so it’s up to you if you think you just have a cold.

Yes a cold is fine so long as no COVID symptoms

Some people with cold symptoms test positive

Yes it's fine to have if you just have a cold (I'm a nurse and trained to give the astrazeneca) x

@ElderMillennial

Some people with cold symptoms test positive

My symptoms when I tested positive were excessive tiredness and a cold. No fever or cough.

Is there enough time to take a test just to be sure?

Thank-you all. No, I’m afraid there’s no time for me to get a test in advance.

NB: it could potentially just be my usual hay fever as it’s been worse this year and my antihistamines haven’t been as effective.

The first question they will ask is "are you presently in good health and don't have a temperature?" If you tell them you have cold symptoms they'll most likely not let you into the building. I'm a vaccinator. Call them up and reschedule.

I had a cold last week and when I rang up to check they told me to cancel and reschedule. I got tested just in case and it was negative. Can't you even do a lateral flow test?

Also I'd personally be rather annoyed if you attended without getting a test to confirm. These centres are full of hard working health professionals and volunteers trying their best to help the vaccine roll out. If you subsequently find out it was Covid, Test and Trace would make those that looked after you isolate for ten days, not to mention putting them in danger of picking up an illness from you.
You most likely do not have Covid, but please reschedule

I had 2nd pfizer on Monday and had a cold. The vaccinator said it was fine. I wouldn't normally have gone for a vaccine whilst feeling a bit unwell but thought it might be a hassle to get another slot. I still have the cold but no other side effects except a slightly sore arm. I also wasn't sure if it was allergies or a cold but it is definitely a cold now.

For many people covid is just a cold. You should really do an asymptomatic test. Also do you want to spread your cold so everyone else who catches then also has to worry if its a cold or covid, which often presents like a cold.

You could do a lateral flow test instead of a PCR maybe ? Result's are quick I think

I would check with your particular centre. I remember I wasn't allowed one of the doses of the HPV vaccine while I had a cold even though the official guidance is that it should be fine. Like others say I also don't know how sensitive they will be to the fact that covid sometimes manifests itself in cold-like symptoms.

Thanks all. I didn’t have any lateral flow tests and no chance before the appointment to get one, so I did what some suggested and called up. I was told it was fine to still attend, which I did, so now I’ve had my first dose. It was very efficient. I did ask again at booking in, and they said it was fine and I read the leaflet afterwards and it specifically said it was OK to have it if you had a cold.

Good news.