Flu vaccine and Coronavirus booster

[Gingerlovesbiscuits]

I’ve booked my 80 year old ECV Mum and my 50 year old CV T1 diabetic husband into Boots for their flu jabs next week. Boots seemed to be offering them earlier than the GP and I wanted them to be done ASAP with me and the kids all at school. But with all this talk of Covid boosters, I’m now wondering whether we should have waited because I’ve heard that some boosters might be combined with flu shots etc. Are the Covid boosters just for Covid alone or do they include other viruses like flu? And, if they are separate, is there a period of time you have to wait in between doses for flu shot and for Covid booster? I’m so confused and don’t know what to do for the best.

I seriously doubt they would make a combo shot without also doing a solo covid shot. I'm sure they'll be fine. I would go ahead with flu shot for them.

As far as time to wait between I don't think anyone really knows... as we are now just entering the first flu season since we have had a widely available covid vaccine... but quick google search says you dont need to space them apart (who knows how accurate that is)

Time to wait- been a vaccinator all year and we ask if any other vaccines in the last 7 days,
There’s talk of one in each arm at the same time but we don’t know yet,

I’m CEV and getting my flu jab on Friday. If a booster programme is announced and I need to wait between jabs so be it, but I’d like my flu vaccine ASAP. I always get it as early as I can since DS started school/nursery.

I’ve booked my flu vaccine at Boots on Friday. (The GP clinics for over 65s are at inconvenient times for me, as I work.)
Yesterday I got a text to say I could book a slot at the GP next week, which mentioned a Covid booster at a later date. I rang the surgery, explained the situation and asked that I be called for the booster when available.

Booster programme only launches next week. Third dose only available 6 months after second dose. Priority system same as previously. So its going to take a while to start rolling it out.

It wont be a combo shot as its not be tested like that. I do know there were trials into having both jabs at the same time which i believe came back as fine but they not said this is the plan yet. (Theres also delays with flu vaccine due to HGV shortage)

My guess is its unlikely to be given at the same time as flu for most people simply because of the 6 month thing. Lots of people eligible for the flu vaccine wont be eligible for their third flu dose until late November or later which is getting late for flu vaccination.

But as previous poster says, it might mess up when you get booster because they may say you have to have a gap between them.

I think they may give more details later today, but for now its still a bit unclear as to how this is going to work.

We have a person clearly eligible for the 500,000 most vulnerable shit.

Still not notified in any way, despite the announcement 10 days ago promising it 'soon'

Pharmacy and GP both still,awaiting guidance when we checked.

Flu jabs booked at Boots for this weekend.

We're still getting the flu jabs done.

Yes it might mean a further wait for safe spacing (seems to be give together or 7 days apart)

But I'm just tired of the announcements for the CEV promising so much and delivering so little (jabs for household CEV were announced at the end of March, but despite many calls it tool until June before the teens got their first shot)

It's nit clear if the 500,000 also get thus booster as well as the shot already announced.

At this rate, they'll be actually receiving them before family member!!

It took 48hours from public announcement to tell us that the person was CEV and to shield. It's 10 days since this one - there's a Pfizer drop-in nearby. The jab could have been done at a safe interval before our flu jab bookings, if the admin had been in step with the announcement.

It's very frustrating

So my advice would be not to wait. You don't know how long you'll be waiting and if exceptionally vulnerable, you need your flu jab early (done plus a couple of weeks) before DC start having the sniff, because that one sheds. Only the very vulnerable are likely to have any real risk from that though)

Our practice opted out of giving the initial Covid vaccines due to logistics and have just been told we won't be doing the boosters either.
We start with the flus in three weeks, hopefully.

DH has his flu jab booked at GP in 2 weeks time, they don’t know yet about COVID boosters, so are cracking on at speed with flu jabs.

I’m 54 and had my second Pfizer jab in March, so 6 months is next week for me. I was group 6 (CV), so wonder when I’ll be able to get a booster?

@TreaslakeandBack what were you told to do if someone said they had had another vaccination within the last 7 days?

Heard a virology professor talking on PM yesterday - he said there is no reason not to give flu and COVID at the same time, they will not interact in any way.

Also said he would be going for his flu jab as soon as invited, and if they had a COVID jab to give him as well he would have it, and if not, then go back when it was offered.

If they want some protection against flu, I'd just get it done (that's what I'm doing). I'd rather have the vaccines separately, as I feel they'll have a better chance to work independently (only my thoughts not scientific).

We've no idea who and when will get booster at the moment. If you've got any doubts, I wouldn't cancel them for a few days (keep your options open). I'm booked in for my flu vaccine end September, the next available appointment now is third week Oct (and there's only one appointment).

puzzled the second vaccine (Covid or other) would be delayed.
Many many vaccines are given together and the likelihood is this will go the same way. Just waiting for the green light.

At the moment I would go and ask the GP and it’s likely they would be rebooked for the following week unless a very good reason.
However let’s wait and see as they may combine the roll out.

It didn't sound like a combination shot as 2 sore arms were mentioned, I think it is to make the roll out easier and so that you only went once for it, so I would probably get the flu jab done if you have appointments.

@RoseWineTime

I’m 54 and had my second Pfizer jab in March, so 6 months is next week for me. I was group 6 (CV), so wonder when I’ll be able to get a booster?

I was wondering the same as I was group 6 the last time - my second dose was end of April. Is the plan for the same 9 cohorts as for the initial rollout?

This thread prompted me to look into our flu jabs. No information on GP website. Checked Boots - our local one had an appointment available on 1st November - but by the time I’d been to check with DH if he wanted me to book for him as well, it was no longer available. But I found one at a Boots branch in a nearby town on 5th October, so grabbed that. Happy days!

If the general over 50’s Covid booster rollout is 6 months after 2nd jab, then DH will eligible any day now, and me towards the end of October. Now that we have flu jabs booked, DH will just need to ensure a 7-day gap, and it obviously won’t be an issue for me.

I’ve been having the flu jab for nearly 20 years (diabetes), whereas DH became eligible as a care home worker 3 years ago, but didn’t bother until last year. He’s obviously a convert now - just retired, but still qualifies thanks to the expansion to all over 50’s.

They can be given together. But in most cases won’t be. Either through choice or practicality. The strong advice is to get them as soon as you can. Don’t wait to have them together.

COVID booster will be given 6m after 2nd dose. Flu can be given now.

My 2nd dose was may and I am booked in for my flu and covid booster 25 sept, so my gp hasn’t waited 6 months?

@Gingerlovesbiscuits for the booster there needs to be a min 6 month gap between doses so unless they were one of the very 1st people to be vaccinated its unlikely they'll be called 1st for the booster within the next week or 2. Although there was talk of having them both done at same time we are still following the 7 day guidance of no other injection 7 days either side. In your position I'd go ahead with the flu jabs next week.

I wouldn’t wait. It won’t be a combined vaccine, it’ll either be one in each arm or a 7 day gap.

We start our under 65 flu jabs next week, our over 65s delivery has been delayed, we’ve opted out of giving the boosters as we just don’t have the staff capacity and we’re already maxed out having given the Covid vaccine programme for the last year and now we have flu season. Throwing the booster programme into the mix was just a step too far.

They definitely won’t be combined in the same syringe.

There has been talk of “one in each arm” vaccination sessions, which may be the way it goes for some people, but I can’t see this working practically for many because of the need to ensure a 6 month gap between second and booster dose, the importance of having the flu vaccine as early as possible, and the logistical problems of having both vaccines available at the same time.

Might work for care homes and healthcare staff receiving vaccines in their workplaces though.

Sorry off topic moan there!

Basically I would recommend anyone wanting a flu vaccine crack on with it - if you wait to have both together you might be waiting a while especially given the delays in vaccine deliveries for many areas. And the fact that some practices aren’t contracting to give the Covid boosters.

I’ve got my flu jab booked at Sainsbury’s for mid-October. I had my second AZ at the end of April and so far my surgery have no idea when they’ll be getting deliveries of flu vaccine for under 65s. They’ve already started vaccinating the over 65s, it was the same last year with a long delay for the younger vulnerable age group.

I actually had a text yesterday inviting me to call the surgery and book my flu jab so I called to see if the date they were doing them was earlier than Sainsbury’s, I waited in a 40 minute queue only to be told the that the texts had gone out in error and they weren’t taking bookings.

I'm booked to get my flu jab at boots in 2 weeks. Although I'm group 6 I didn't get my 2nd covid jab until May so that means November at the earliest for my booster. I won't be waiting until then for my flu jab

We are getting our flu shots on Saturday, our GP hasn’t even mentioned starting them yet .