Covid booster shot and flu shot more or less at same time safe for CLL patients?

[leopardo]

About to get my Covid booster shot in Ontario, Canada. Already double-dosed. About to get my flu shot at the same time. I am assuming that doing so is safe if not recommended? Can someone answer this question with some certainty?

I have had CLL for 19 years (!) and more recently, a lymphoma, both of which are completely in remission right now. I am now 79 years old. Those similarly affected, please take note. There is more than hope.

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Per last week's, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society video on this topic: healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Q: Can you comment on the flu vaccine and the two pneumonia vaccines as it relates to those of us who have taken rituximab or other CD-20 inhibitors?

A: There is no problem in receiving any and all combinations of influenza, pneumococcal or COVID-19 vaccines simultaneously - see the video at 5:10 for detailed answers

community.lls.org/s/ask-an-...

You might like to consider separating them for reasons of reducing the temporary side effects or so that you can work out which vaccine could have caused them.

Neil

[G1llHa1n in reply to AussieNeil]

I had my 3rd primary and my flu jab early this month at the same time - one in each arm.Only side effects - the usual muscle soreness - which cleared up over 3 days.

[JigFettler Volunteer in reply to AussieNeil]

To know which caused what side effects is exactly the main reason not to have them together, I agree AussieNeil

🙂

Take my case... I had 3rd Covid... minimum reaction. 2 weeks later the flu jab, that laid me out for 3 days, fever, rigors, myalgia, vomiting... I blame FCR for that, since FCR the flu vacc has been awful to me.

Had I had them together, I wld be a bit stuck about what was what.

So arrange splitting them up unless impossible!

Jig

[leopardo in reply to AussieNeil]

Thanks for this.

[Family2017 in reply to AussieNeil]

Great advice as well as the informative link. However, all those who post don't give any preparation advice before getting the vaccines to minimize the side effects. Can you enlighten on the inquiry?

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to Family2017]

As I understand it, any anaphylactic side effect from a vaccination occurs within minutes of the vaccine, hence the advice to stay for observation for typically 15 minutes afterwards. The side effects which may occur a few hours later are due to your body reacting to the injected foreign material and are NOT an indication of your antibody response, which occurs over the next one to two weeks. It doesn't appear possible to predict how you'll respond to a given vaccination side effect wise.

Neil

[1935husband]

Absolutely no problem. My wife and I had booster and flu at the same time. Different arms.

[Bridgewood]

I have had 2 Covid vaccines, then the third, and 2 weeks later the flu shot. All recommended by my Hematologist. Sore at injection site for a couple of days.

[Edalv]

I had my booster shot last Wednesday, that evening I didn’t sleep well. I woke up the next day with 100 degree temperature. I felt very tired for about 2 days. Then I recovered my strength slowly over the weekend. That’s why I wouldn’t take more than one shot at a time. But that’s my opinion, each one of us is different…

[bennevisplace]

I had a third shot (Pfizer) and flu jab one minute apart. Both shoulders sore that night, so unable to sleep on my side as usual. I would take both in the same arm next time. Felt a bit below par next day, as with most single vaccinations in my pre-CLL life.

[Astro617]

I agree with Aussie Neil regarding separating vaccines to know which vaccine is causing the side effects, if you want to know. Also, were you to have a severe reaction to one of the vaccines, you wouldn't know which one caused it. I prefer to allow my body all the chances it can to work on antibodies for one disease at a time. My GP said I could get vaccines 2 weeks apart. I am choosing 4 weeks apart.