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Original poster

Bloody hell - covid booster and flu jab hell

114 replies

purpleflowerlegs · 10/10/2021 18:22

Just a woe is me.

NHS worker. Had my covid booster and flu jab together on Friday - 1 in each arm. I feel DREADFUL. My arms are bruised and dead feeling - can't lift them up, carry stuff or drive etc and can't sleep - every time I move it's bloody agony.

I'm quite sensitive to jabs anyway. Previous covid jabs made me feel sick and headachy (not this time though) - but I'm always used to have my good arm free. Not this time - 1 in each arm is brutal!

OP posts:
Blankspace4 · 10/10/2021 18:24

Oh poor you. I have to say this was my immediate thoughts when I heard they are doing a ‘double whammy’ as I’ve felt unwell previously with both separately.

Take care of yourself and rest (and sleep on your back tonight??!)

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 10/10/2021 18:40

Us too. Vaccinated yesterday morning. We were fine for the first 6 hours but have been zombified since then. Hoping we’ll feel better in the morning!

CrocodilesCry · 10/10/2021 18:41

Sympathies. However, really not a great idea to post IMO especially as a HCP.

The last thing we need is people being put off getting these jabs as we go into winter.

doodleygirl · 10/10/2021 18:42

oh no, thats horrible. I had mine on Wednesday and luckily I was fine. Hope you feel better soon

Original poster
purpleflowerlegs · 10/10/2021 18:44

@CrocodilesCry

Sympathies. However, really not a great idea to post IMO especially as a HCP.

The last thing we need is people being put off getting these jabs as we go into winter.

HCP are people too you know 🙄

Hopefully other people will learn from my mistakes and book them separately.

OP posts:
CrocodilesCry · 10/10/2021 18:46

HCP are people too you know 🙄

Yup fully aware of that Grin

OnTheNatureOfDaylight · 10/10/2021 18:49

I had my flu jab yesterday and I’m getting my booster on Wednesday.
I’m considering changing it to a few days later.

Belsizepark · 10/10/2021 18:51

When I went for my flu jab they wouldn’t give it you if you had had a Covid jab in the last two weeks. It looks like you’re not supposed to have them both on the same day. I hope you’re feeling better soon.

StCharlotte · 10/10/2021 18:55

@Belsizepark

When I went for my flu jab they wouldn’t give it you if you had had a Covid jab in the last two weeks. It looks like you’re not supposed to have them both on the same day. I hope you’re feeling better soon.
Yet... if it had been six months since my second Covid jab, they would have given me the booster at the same time as my flu jab last week.
WiseUpJanetWeiss · 10/10/2021 18:57

@CrocodilesCry

Sympathies. However, really not a great idea to post IMO especially as a HCP.

The last thing we need is people being put off getting these jabs as we go into winter.

Hmm. Warning people you may feel a bit crap for a couple of days and then will be well protected against both flu and Covid is honest, and allows people to prepare. We booked for Saturday morning deliberately, knowing we’d possibly be out of action. Pretending all is fine is gaslighting.
WiseUpJanetWeiss · 10/10/2021 18:58

@Belsizepark

When I went for my flu jab they wouldn’t give it you if you had had a Covid jab in the last two weeks. It looks like you’re not supposed to have them both on the same day. I hope you’re feeling better soon.
The whole of the NHS is being offered them together on the same day.

To be honest I’d rather just feel grim once than twice.

LadyLolaRuben · 10/10/2021 18:59

I was told by a vet 20 years ago never to have different vaccines on the same day as its asking too much of your body. Ive always taken that advice

VicSynix · 10/10/2021 19:19

I'm NHS, my particular bit (GP surgery) was told very firmly to have them separately! Had the flu one a couple of weeks ago, booster on Thursday, zero ill effects. A friend went to the mass vax centre for hers and was told off for booking them both for same day - should be at least 7 days between.

So yes, get your jabs, but if you have ever reacted to a flu jab or weren't well after your Covid vax, maybe don't have both on the same day.

Musicaltheatremum · 10/10/2021 19:23

I had covid booster (moderna after 2xpfizer) and flu on Wednesday. Felt slightly light headed Thursday but fine today.

I know lots of people with both on same day who are fine.

It's a judgement call but am glad I've had both mine

Lindy2 · 10/10/2021 19:30

I hope you feel better soon.

I had my flu jab the other day and have had no side effects or soreness. One year I couldn't even lift my arm - this year I'm absolutely fine.

I think you've been unlucky OP. We all react differently.

Motorina · 10/10/2021 19:32

I was double jabbed thursday and am still in bed. I've never reacted to flu, but did feel rough after the two covid jabs early in the year.

I mean, yay to being protected. But, unless they change the covid booster to either mean it is specific to current variants, or that the side effect rate tapers off, I might stick to just the flu jab next year.

nordica · 10/10/2021 19:51

@LadyLolaRuben

I was told by a vet 20 years ago never to have different vaccines on the same day as its asking too much of your body. Ive always taken that advice
Interesting advice from a vet when cats and dogs are routinely given all their vaccines at the same time.
Damnyoureyes · 10/10/2021 19:57

Me too.
The sleeping is non existent because of the painful arms!

Paracetamol is magical stuff though and it’s only lasted 24 hours tbh so glad I’m all done in one go.
Agree with OP, bloody brutal!

ifonly4 · 10/10/2021 20:01

Hope you feel better soon, OP.

They're not booking together here. I'd had my flu vaccine booked a couple of months, but have been invited for my Covid booster at 25 weeks. I kept my flu vaccine and luckily absolutely fine with it. I've chosen to have my Covid booster at 27 weeks as I'm working 6/7 days a week and can't face work and feeling under the weather.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 10/10/2021 20:02

I had mine together a couple of weeks ago. Slept practically all of the following day but was OK after that.

sepsisandAKI · 10/10/2021 20:07

You can have both flu and Covid on the same day. Lots of misinformation from people saying you can’t. There is no minimum time you have to wait. I had my flu and Covid the day after each other and I had no problem apart from any achy arm.
Hope you are feeling better soon OP!

hedwigismyowl · 10/10/2021 20:11

I had both on the same day, only had sore arm with the covid jab arm for 24hrs, which you'd expect. flu jab arm was fine and I slept on it that night.

So you can have both and have no bad effects, everyone's different.

Sweettea1 · 10/10/2021 20:11

@Belsizepark

When I went for my flu jab they wouldn’t give it you if you had had a Covid jab in the last two weeks. It looks like you’re not supposed to have them both on the same day. I hope you’re feeling better soon.
Lots of places are offering them together my 86 year old nan had both on Friday.
Aquamarine1029 · 10/10/2021 20:11

@CrocodilesCry

Sympathies. However, really not a great idea to post IMO especially as a HCP.

The last thing we need is people being put off getting these jabs as we go into winter.

🙄
dontbeagit · 10/10/2021 20:32

ComFluCov study

  • it is perfectly fine and safe to have the flu and booster together.

But you do have my sympathies OP. having had mine separately (no choice here) it was the booster that caused the 1 day of grottiness (but better than Covid for anyone hesitating, just get the booster!) Just take some paracetamol and rest for a day.