Can I get the flu and COVID-19 shots at the same time?

NEW YORK (AP) – Can I get the flu and COVID-19 shots at the same time?

Yes, you can get the snapshots in the same visit.

When COVID-19 vaccines were first rolled out in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended waiting 14 days between injections and other vaccinations as a precaution. But the agency has since revised its guidelines and said the wait is pointless.

The CDC and other health experts point to past experience showing that vaccines work as they should and that all side effects are similar whether the injections are given separately or at the same visit.

“We are used to immunizing our children with multiple vaccines,” says influenza specialist Richard Webby of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Staying up to date on all vaccinations will be especially important this year, experts say.

As people were masked and stayed at home, last year’s flu season barely registered. This year, it’s unclear how intense the flu season will be with more locations reopening.

“The concern is that if they both go around at the same time, we’re going to have this kind of ‘half-demie’,” Webby said. “The problem with this is that it’s going to put additional strain on an already strained healthcare system.”

CDC recommends an annual flu shot for everyone 6 months and older, and says ideally everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October. It takes 10 to 14 days for the flu shot to take full effect, so if you wait until the flu starts to circulate, your body may not have time to protect itself. Vaccine options vary by age, but include several types of injections or a nasal spray version.

One caveat: COVID-19, the common cold, and the flu all share similar symptoms, so if you’re feeling sick the CDC says to postpone a vaccination appointment until you’re better to avoid making the other patients.

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The AP answers your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them to: [email protected]. Read more here:

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