A recent study shows it’s safe to get your COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time.
The trial, published in JAMA Network Open, found that people who received both shots simultaneously had no more side effects than those who got the shots 1 or 2 weeks apart.
The research included 335 participants, aged 5 years and older, who got vaccinated between October 2021 and June 2023 at three locations in the United States. Most participants (63%) were female, and their average age was 33.4 years.
Of these, 169 received their flu and COVID-19 shots on the same day, while 166 got them on different days.
The study focused on common side effects, like fever, chills, muscle aches, and joint pain, within a week of vaccination.
Researchers also tracked more serious reactions over 121 days. Over half of the participants (57%) had either a past COVID-19 infection or detectable antibodies to the virus when the study began.
The results were promising. About 25.6% of those who received the vaccines at the same time reported moderate or greater side effects, compared to 31.3% in the group that got the shots separately.
Severe reactions, such as those requiring medical attention, were rare—only 8.3% in the simultaneous group and 12.6% in the sequential group.
Importantly, no one in the study needed medical help for their symptoms, and there was no difference in how the two groups rated their overall health after vaccination.
The researchers concluded that getting both vaccines on the same day is a safe and convenient option. This approach could help increase vaccination rates during times when both flu and COVID-19 cases are expected to rise.
These findings support the idea of simplifying vaccine schedules, making it easier for people to protect themselves against both illnesses. If you’re planning to get vaccinated, this study shows there’s no need to wait—one trip to the clinic could cover both vaccines safely and efficiently.
This is great news as we head into seasons where both viruses are more active, offering an easy way to stay healthy.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about Vitamin D deficiency linked to severe COVID-19, and how diets could help manage post-COVID syndrome.
For more health information, please see recent studies about new evidence on rare blood clots after COVID-19 vaccination, and results showing zinc could help reduce COVID-19 infection risk.
