Does Getting COVID-19, Flu Vaccine Altogether Safe? Here’s What Experts Say!

A new research from the United Kingdom claimed that getting a flu shot simultaneously with COVID-19 vaccination is both safe and effective. The new study backs up what US health officials say as they roll out coronavirus boosters and urge individuals to protect themselves against the flu’s risks.

Low Dosage of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is Safe and Effective for Children (Photo: Cleveland Clinic)

Getting A Flu and COVID-19 Jabs Simultaneously Now Safe

The study, which followed the side effects and immunological responses of 679 patients throughout the United Kingdom after receiving both injections, found “no safety concerns” regarding giving flu and Covid-19 doses simultaneously, according to the researchers.

The preprint study showed that reported adverse effects, such as tiredness, injection site discomfort, and headache, were mainly “mild or moderate” and following what is expected with each vaccination alone. Forbes said experts would publish the study’s complete findings in the Lancet medical journal.

Blood tests on participants who had already received one dosage of AstraZeneca or Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine and were examined after getting their second dose alongside a placebo or one of three flu vaccinations revealed that neither vaccine had a detrimental effect on immunity.

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The researchers cautioned that the outcomes of the trial may not apply to other Covid-19 vaccines in the same class due to the uniqueness of the technology employed to create the Pfizer and AstraZeneca injections (like the Moderna vaccine).

The researchers believe that combining Covid-19 vaccinations with flu injections will help to “reduce the strain on healthcare services” while also allowing vaccines to reach people who need them most quickly.

Some Experts Warn On “Twindemic”

Throughout the first year of the pandemic, scientists warned of the possibility of a “twindemic.” That’s a deadly combination of Covid-19 and influenza or flu. This did not take place. The public health measures put in place to combat Covid-19 were instrumental in almost eliminating the flu and some other prevalent respiratory diseases in the United States. However, now that the limitations have been lifted, experts (per CNBC) are divided (per NYTimes) on what will happen if it returns. Because it hasn’t had much time to evolve, it might be less harmful, or it could infect a more sensitive population that hasn’t been exposed to the virus. Experts recommend that everyone be vaccinated against both illnesses, and they warn that flu epidemics might strain already overburdened medical systems.

According to the World Health Organization, the flu kills roughly 650,000 people each year throughout the world. It is responsible for around 5 million cases of serious disease.

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