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The 2021 flu season is hitting us as millions of Americans are considering a COVID-19 booster vaccination.
The FDA has approved a third dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for people with certain health conditions that compromise their immune systems, and for people 65 years of age and older.
In August, we spoke with Dr. Anita Skariah, internist and pediatrician at UNC Health, to get answers to questions about the need for influenza and COVID vaccines. In short, she recommended getting vaccinated against both COVID and the flu.
So we came back with her this week to see if the recommendations are any different when it comes to receiving a COVID booster injection.
We recap Skariah’s recommendations for influenza vaccines, as well as new thoughts on COVID vaccines and booster shots.
Do I need the flu shot if I got the COVID vaccine?
Yes, viruses are different and so are vaccines.
Skariah explains, “It is important to get the flu shot even if you have received the COVID vaccine. Neither will protect against the other – the flu vaccine will not protect you against Sars Co-V and COVID vaccines will not protect you against the flu.
“Both are life-threatening diseases that can be prevented with vaccination. “
Is it safe to get the flu shot if I get a vaccine booster?
Yes. Skariah tells us that currently the CDC guidelines are the same with the booster vaccine.
Will the flu vaccine interfere in any way with the COVID vaccine?
No, the flu vaccine should not interfere with the COVID vaccine in any way, Skariah said.
Can I get the flu shot and the COVID vaccine exactly at the same time?
You can, but you might not want to.
“In the past, the CDC had recommended waiting 14 days between COVID vaccines and any other vaccine, but now they feel that is not necessary based on the evidence,” she said.
However, Skariah adds that while it’s perfectly safe to take the photos at the same time or in close proximity to each other, you may want to space them out “according to your personal preferences” – especially if you’re worried about Side effects.
“You may experience mild side effects from each of the vaccines, so if you wanted to separate the two vaccines by two weeks, that would also be reasonable.”
When should I start thinking about the flu shot?
Skariah says now is the time to start thinking about getting a flu shot.
“Typically, we recommend getting the flu shot from September through October to be proactive, but you can continue to do so throughout flu season,” Skariah said.
“It takes a few weeks to make antibodies once vaccinated, and the effectiveness decreases after six months. This is why we recommend that you get vaccinated in September or October. In the past, we have typically seen an increase in influenza cases in October, increasing as winter progresses and into early spring. “
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza activity typically begins to increase in October, peaking between December and February (although flu season can last until May).
Could the flu shot give me the flu?
Skariah confirms that the flu shot cannot give you the flu.
“It is not a live vaccine unless you are given an intranasal formulation (nasal spray), but even the live vaccine cannot cause influenza,” Skariah said. “Influenza vaccines are made with either a killed virus or just a protein from the influenza virus. “
What are the side effects of a flu shot?
You might feel bad after getting the flu shot, the same way you might have had a reaction to the COVID vaccine.
It’s normal, Skariah tells us, but it’s not the flu.
“Sometimes after a vaccine you may have a mild fever, feel tired, or feel like ‘falling over with something’,” Skariah said.
“It’s actually the complex signaling system of your immune system that tells your body to fight off a potential invader. This is how the body builds up antibodies so that if you ever encounter the flu, your body is already armed and ready to fight it. “
Who should get the flu shot? Is there a reason not to do this?
Unless you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to the flu shot in the past, it’s recommended that anyone six months of age and older get a flu shot, Skariah said.
“The only contraindication is if you’ve ever had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine,” Skariah said.
Even people with egg allergies who may have already avoided the flu shot can now be safely given the vaccine, she said.
“If the egg allergy was more severe than the hives, it should be done in a doctor’s office, so they can monitor you briefly afterwards. There are also egg-free options available this year, but ask your supplier about that.
Will the flu season 2021 be worse than last year?
Health officials predict a more severe flu season this year compared to last year.
Last year we saw a record number of flu-related deaths, thanks in large part to people wearing masks and spending most of the flu season working (and socializing) from home.
This year, even with the recent wave of delta variants, most people outnumber them last year, so it’s important to get a flu shot this year.
Brooke Cain’s Story, The Charlotte Observer
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