Can your child get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time? Here’s what health officials say. – News 12 Bronx

News 12 Staff

Nov 10, 2021, 1:04pm

Updated on: Nov 10, 2021, 1:10pm

Can your child get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time?

Dr. Sharon Nachman, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and the director of the Office of Clinical Trials at Stony Brook Children's Hospital, suggests that your child receive the shots in different arms.

"We have a history of vaccinating our kids with multiple vaccines," says flu 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.

Since people were masked and staying home, last year's flu season barely registered. This year, it's unclear how intense the flu season will be with more places reopening.

"The worry is that if they both circulate at the same time, we're going to have this sort of 'twin-demic,'" Webby says. "The concern with that is that it's going to put extra strain on an already strained health care system."

The CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine 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 vaccine to take full effect so if you wait until the flu begins circulating, your body may not have time to build up protection. Vaccine options vary by age but include several types of shots or a nasal spray version.

One caution: COVID-19, colds and flu all share similar symptoms so if you feel ill, the CDC says to postpone a vaccination appointment until you're better to avoid getting others sick.

AP wire services contributed to this report.

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Can your child get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time? Here's what health officials say. - News 12 Bronx