Does Getting a COVID Booster and a Flu Shot Together Make Side Effects Worse?

Key TakeawaysA recent study showed that getting a flu shot and a COVID-19 booster together might increase the chance of possible side effects, but the difference is negligible.Not everyone experiences side effects. But some people do, and the side effects from a COVID-19 booster or a flu shot are usually mild.The CDC recommends getting a COVID-19 booster as soon as you’re eligible, and it’s fine to get both a flu shot and a booster on the same day.A recent CDC study showed that getting a flu shot and an mRNA COVID-19 booster at the same time was associated with an 8%-11% increased chance ofside effects, compared to receiving a COVID-19 booster alone.Doubling up on the flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine can protect against both viruses. But is it still safe toget them on the same day?Anne Hause, PhD, MSPH, a CDC researcher who led the study, wrote in an email to Verywell that getting two vaccines at once introduces a higher amount of antigens than a single shot, likely causing the immune system to be more reactive.However, the side effects from flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines tend to be mild and resolve quickly, Hause said, and the CDC continues to recommend getting the shots together if eligible.“CDC recommends people stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination and receive a booster dose or second booster dose as soon as they are eligible,” Hause said. “Likewise, people should receive an influenza vaccine at the beginning of the influenza season. These two vaccines may be given together if a person is eligible to receive them.”Do Two Shots Hurt More Than One?Edward Belongia, MD,director of the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Population Health at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, told Verywell that he doubts the statistical significance of the CDC review translates to an increased risk in real life.“A statistical difference is not the same as a meaningful difference,” Belongia said. “Their study was so large, they had hundreds of thousands of people, so even very, very tiny differences can be statistically significant, but they’re not meaningful.”Yes, You Need Both the Flu and COVID-19 ShotsBelongia said the data showed similar outcomes for both vaccine regimens. For example, nearly the same percentage of respondents who simultaneously received a flu shot and a Pfizer booster reported having “any systemic reaction” as those who received only the Pfizer booster.“This study just emphasizes that getting the vaccines together doesn’t pose any meaningful increased risk of having either local or systemic side effects,” Belongia said. “People should not have any concern about getting them together, it’s fine to get them together.”He encourages people to get both shots at once, especially if they are struggling to schedule appointments.“There are important reasons not to delay the vaccine,” he said. “If you have an opportunity to get both at the same time, we would really strongly encourage people to do that.”Flu Shot Might Have Protected Some People From Severe COVIDPeople who are getting two shots at once could ask to be injected in different arms, he added, although that might be up to personal preference.“If I ever get a choice, I choose to get them in different arms,” Belongia said. “I’d rather have a slight discomfort in two arms than a lot of discomfort in one.”Anongoing clinical trialfrom the CDC is looking to further answer questions about vaccine side effects. Researchers are comparing side effects from flu and COVID-19 vaccinations given on the same day versus given two weeks apart.While this trial is still recruiting participants, it should be able to eventually examine how vaccine side effects differ and help guide recommendations on future booster rollouts.Op-Ed: ‘Vaccine Fatigue’ Is Hindering the Flu Shot RolloutWhat This Means For YouGetting a COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot on the same day is safe and effective. and hasn’t been shown to greatly increase risks of post-inoculation side effects.The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

Key Takeaways

A recent study showed that getting a flu shot and a COVID-19 booster together might increase the chance of possible side effects, but the difference is negligible.Not everyone experiences side effects. But some people do, and the side effects from a COVID-19 booster or a flu shot are usually mild.The CDC recommends getting a COVID-19 booster as soon as you’re eligible, and it’s fine to get both a flu shot and a booster on the same day.

A recent CDC study showed that getting a flu shot and an mRNA COVID-19 booster at the same time was associated with an 8%-11% increased chance ofside effects, compared to receiving a COVID-19 booster alone.

Doubling up on the flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine can protect against both viruses. But is it still safe toget them on the same day?

Anne Hause, PhD, MSPH, a CDC researcher who led the study, wrote in an email to Verywell that getting two vaccines at once introduces a higher amount of antigens than a single shot, likely causing the immune system to be more reactive.

However, the side effects from flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines tend to be mild and resolve quickly, Hause said, and the CDC continues to recommend getting the shots together if eligible.

“CDC recommends people stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination and receive a booster dose or second booster dose as soon as they are eligible,” Hause said. “Likewise, people should receive an influenza vaccine at the beginning of the influenza season. These two vaccines may be given together if a person is eligible to receive them.”

Do Two Shots Hurt More Than One?

Edward Belongia, MD,director of the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Population Health at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, told Verywell that he doubts the statistical significance of the CDC review translates to an increased risk in real life.

“A statistical difference is not the same as a meaningful difference,” Belongia said. “Their study was so large, they had hundreds of thousands of people, so even very, very tiny differences can be statistically significant, but they’re not meaningful.”

Yes, You Need Both the Flu and COVID-19 Shots

Belongia said the data showed similar outcomes for both vaccine regimens. For example, nearly the same percentage of respondents who simultaneously received a flu shot and a Pfizer booster reported having “any systemic reaction” as those who received only the Pfizer booster.

“This study just emphasizes that getting the vaccines together doesn’t pose any meaningful increased risk of having either local or systemic side effects,” Belongia said. “People should not have any concern about getting them together, it’s fine to get them together.”

He encourages people to get both shots at once, especially if they are struggling to schedule appointments.

“There are important reasons not to delay the vaccine,” he said. “If you have an opportunity to get both at the same time, we would really strongly encourage people to do that.”

Flu Shot Might Have Protected Some People From Severe COVID

People who are getting two shots at once could ask to be injected in different arms, he added, although that might be up to personal preference.

“If I ever get a choice, I choose to get them in different arms,” Belongia said. “I’d rather have a slight discomfort in two arms than a lot of discomfort in one.”

Anongoing clinical trialfrom the CDC is looking to further answer questions about vaccine side effects. Researchers are comparing side effects from flu and COVID-19 vaccinations given on the same day versus given two weeks apart.

While this trial is still recruiting participants, it should be able to eventually examine how vaccine side effects differ and help guide recommendations on future booster rollouts.

Op-Ed: ‘Vaccine Fatigue’ Is Hindering the Flu Shot Rollout

What This Means For YouGetting a COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot on the same day is safe and effective. and hasn’t been shown to greatly increase risks of post-inoculation side effects.

What This Means For You

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot on the same day is safe and effective. and hasn’t been shown to greatly increase risks of post-inoculation side effects.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hause AM, Zhang B, Yue X et al.Reactogenicity of simultaneous COVID-19 mRNA booster and influenza vaccination in the US.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(7):e2222241. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.22241

1 Source

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hause AM, Zhang B, Yue X et al.Reactogenicity of simultaneous COVID-19 mRNA booster and influenza vaccination in the US.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(7):e2222241. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.22241

Hause AM, Zhang B, Yue X et al.Reactogenicity of simultaneous COVID-19 mRNA booster and influenza vaccination in the US.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(7):e2222241. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.22241

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Key Takeaways#

Do Two Shots Hurt More Than One?#

What This Means For You#

Key Takeaways

Do Two Shots Hurt More Than One?

What This Means For You