Flu vaccine and Covid booster

[SandyStarfish]

I usually buy the £9 flu vaccine from a pharmacy every year. I had heard that the flu vaccine might be combined with Covid booster (not sure where I heard this). However it seems as though you can already book a flu vax at some pharmacies. Any pharmacists here able to answer any of these?

1. Is September too early for flu vax, for the best cover?
2. Is flu vax likely to run out (for general public to buy) as more people might want it this year (and therefore is having it earlier, better)?
3. Are there any plans to combine a Covid booster and the flu jab? I wouldn't want to have the flu vax and then an update to it is brought out which combines the two, but I've already had the single flu jab.
4. For CV people who are offered a free NHS jab yearly, but decide to have it at a pharmacy... are they better of waiting to hear what the doctors advise rather than booking one in for September?

Thanks for any input.

The earliest appointments in pharmacies near me are the middle of September. I've already booked one.

I thought the combined thing meant you had them at the same time ie 2 separate jabs, rather than being the same jab

If you have to pay for the flu jab

Its unlikely you will be offered the Covid Booster in September.
This will be over 70’s and CEV only at that stage

It’s unlikely to be mixed in the same jab.

Covid boosters group 1, if they follow the interim guidance, will be for CEV, frontline health and care staff and the over 70s (the old groups 1-4)

Group 2 is CV, household of severely immune suppressed people, and by age (down to over 50?)

So I think there will be a lot of eligible MNetters

Plan seems to be for either
a) the two shots to be given together (no combined shot being manufactured AFAIK)
b) shots to be given singly, must be at least 7 days apart

As we're still awaiting confirmation of the covid booster programme, I decided to book flu jabs - at worst it will delay covid booster by a week. With an immune compromised CEV person in the household, we want to get flu shot done (and time for it to have full effect) before the school-based 'sniff' programme begins (it sheds - the risk to those with normal immune systems is however vanishingly small)

The flu vaccine give you good protection for on average four months, and it takes a few weeks to build up immunity, so it's best to get it about a month before winter starts. However winter is quite long in the U.K. and so I would aim for around end of October that way you are covered for dec/jan/feb which are usually the worst months for flu.

I booked mine for late September, there were shortages last year. I am not in the first group for booster vaccine, so think I will be ok with mine. I would ideally like them spaced apart, but obviously it will be easier to give both at the same time.

In US flu jab is free for everyone insured so it's very routine to get it, and recommendation is to take it in Sept or Oct, by end of Oct latest. Not in July or Aug.

"The flu vaccine give you good protection for on average four months"

Do you have a source for that? The sites I've been looking at say 6 months, and the end of October timing is certainly on CDC website, but that's the latest they say you should have it (though still worth getting even after that)

They don't recommend beginning early (by which they mean July/August) except for those who need a two part primary course.

But it looks as if Sept and Oct is the best time.

Is there different British advice?

There are plans to develop a combined jab by some of the vaccine manufacturers but there will not be one available this winter.

Thanks all. I may qualify for an earlyish booster due to my job, and my husband is cv. I night book us in for flu vax mid-Sept onwards then.

I've just Googled it and there is no real info out there. Frustrating.

There is likely to be scope for co administration of the two vaccines. That is two jabs administered at the same time. But there is no requirement to do this other than in groups where it would be difficult to arrange 2 appointments. For example with, people who can’t go to vaccine hubs or transient communities.

However the complex logistics of aligning the timing for a booster, eligibility for flu and availability of both vaccines means that most of us will end up getting them separately. As it’s better for everyone if you get the flu when it is offered and the booster when it is offered rather than delaying one to get both at the same time.

Added to which flu vaccines are available from all GPs and almost all pharmacies. COVID vaccines are only provided from a proportion of those.

As to supply, this is ordered directly by GPs and pharmacies from manufacturers and wholesalers based on their needs. They usually order more and can return some or have a proportion underwrites by the NHS. There is also a national stock held by the NHS to deal with supply and distribution problems.

The most likely timing for a COVID booster will be that it is given at a defined period after the administration of the second dose, e.g. 6 months.

Thank you Lemon. Mine has been 6 months already. I'm guessing that it would make sense to just go ahead and book our flu vaccination, and to assume it won't affect anything booster-wise?

To clarify it’s flu supply that is ordered directly from manufacturers and wholesalers. COVID vaccines are supplied by the NHS based on population needs.

This is speculation really but certainly for pregnancy vaccinations the guidance was to leave at least 7 days between them, so I had my covid first dose, HAD to wait at least 7 days, then got my whooping cough but HAD to make sure it was more than 7 days before my second covid jab which might have needed a bit of guesswork were it not for the fact I knew it was an 8 week interval, so I had a 6 week window to get my whooping cough done.

If the 7 day protocol is down to the covid jab mechanism rather than just not going bonkers on your immune system during pregnancy then I guess it will apply to the covid/flu combo at least this year, but I've no evidence for that, just a vaguely informed guess.

The Covid PGD (group prescription used in mass vac centres) has been updated so that the Covid vaccine may be given with other vaccines apart from the shingles one.

That said, whether it is a good idea to have them close together in terms of side effects is not yet clear.

It is also looking increasingly likely since Sajid Javid took over as health sec (and had a panic over all the money spent) that boosters will not be rolled out as expected in the autumn. Currently my best guess and it is only a guess, is that it will be care home residents and the very vulnerable only.

@SandyStarfish

I've just Googled it and there is no real info out there. Frustrating.

There’s no real info out there yet as the booster programme hasn’t officially been confirmed by the JCVI/government yet. NHS trusts/GPs are anticipating that they will be rolling out a booster programme from September but it’s important to note it hasn’t actually been agreed yet.

I know it can't be helped. But frustrating as flu jab time is approaching and it's confusing. I think I'll book in to have it end of Sept... can always cancel if needed.

NHS trusts/GPs are anticipating that they will be rolling out a booster programme from September but it’s important to note it hasn’t actually been agreed yet

TBH NHS trusts and GPS are now expecting the booster programme to be cancelled or scaled back significantly.

Are you frontline NHS?
You say your husband is CV? Not ECV?

You still may not get it

Just book your flu jab

Im over 50, not classed as vulnerable. Id rather my vaccine went to someone who really needed it, or abroad to a country where there is vaccine shortage. Ive had two vaccines, if thats not enough, what is?

No I'm not frontline NHS. Husband is CV. I'm just trying to get a job crossed off my to do list (book flu jabs). But I was overthinking... I'm not chomping at the bit to get my booster but will have it when offered. I just wanted a bit more clarification first. Thanks, I know what to do now.

@GCrebel

NHS trusts/GPs are anticipating that they will be rolling out a booster programme from September but it’s important to note it hasn’t actually been agreed yet

TBH NHS trusts and GPS are now expecting the booster programme to be cancelled or scaled back significantly.

Why is that?

Sajid seemed quite clear that it was going ahead last Tuesday?

Creuset - the money has run out and we have a different health secretary.

There isn't strong evidence currently for the need for widespread boosters, and so they are hoping to save some money by not doing them. Or at least putting them off until later in the winter / spring next year.

The DH/PHE are not ready to make (or announce) a decision yet, but it's sounding increasingly like they won't do them.