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On December 27, 2020, vaccination against COVID-19 began in Poland. Some people wonder if they get vaccinated against the flu in the fall / winter season, can they also get vaccinated against COVID-19? Is the flu vaccine not enough to protect you? We check.
- Experts have been arguing since September that it is worth getting vaccinated against the flu this season. Although this will not protect us against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection, it has many advantages
- COVID-19 Vaccine Manufacturers – Moderna and Pfizer BioNTech Recommend 14 Days Interval Between Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines
- You can find more up-to-date information on the TvoiLokony home page
Influenza vaccination and COVID-19
From September 2020, that is, from the beginning of the fall and winter cold and flu season, experts have been encouraging flu vaccination. Why is it so important?
– Regular flu vaccination is known to reduce the course of the infection. If the disease does occur despite vaccination, it also protects against serious complications. Influenza vaccinated patients are also less likely to contract any other viral infections, and even, for example, common colds caused by rhinoviruses, explained the chairman of the Scientific Council of the National Program Against Influenza, Prof. Adam Antczak.
Have a question about the COVID-19 vaccine? Do you want to share your experiences of taking the vaccine? Write to us: [email protected]
It must be emphasized, however, that influenza vaccination will not protect us from becoming infected with SARS-COV-2 coronavirus, but it does have other benefits that are worth keeping in mind.
First, the flu and COVID-19 share several symptoms that make it difficult to differentiate between these diseases without testing. In the case of people vaccinated against influenza, diagnosis may be facilitated (of course, you must remember that the flu vaccine does not provide 100% protection against infection).
There have also been several studies showing that taking the flu vaccine can reduce the likelihood of severe COVID-19 and the risk of death. See: Everyone should get the flu shot. Will this save us from COVID-19? [WE EXPLAIN]
However, there are some doubts as to whether people vaccinated against influenza may be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the future. Are there any contraindications for such a solution?
See also: Who will not be able to get vaccinated against COVID-19?
COVID-19 vaccine after flu vaccination
Both of these vaccines work against different viruses, and the flu vaccine is actually a vaccine against several mutations in the influenza virus. The package insert for Comirnaty, a preparation developed by Pfizer / BioNTech, states that no studies have been conducted to administer Comirnaty concomitantly with other vaccines. This means that the vaccine should be administered alone and not, for example, in a combination formulation such as, for example, the MMR vaccine.
We read later in this leaflet that participants in a clinical trial were required to maintain an interval of at least 14 days before and after receiving the flu vaccine. So there is no reason why you shouldn’t get the flu vaccine first (or after being vaccinated for COVID-19) and then get vaccinated for COVID-19. However, a 14-day interval between these vaccinations is recommended.
A similar objection – about a 14-day interval between vaccines – can be found in the summary of product characteristics of the COVID-19 vaccine by Moderna, which has also received a positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency and the European Commission.
The editorial board recommends:
- Can I get vaccinations during the coronavirus epidemic?
- Does influenza vaccination reduce the course of coronavirus infection?
- What should I know about vaccinations? The most important information [WE EXPLAIN]
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