Combining the Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines.

[Kwenda]

I have read of some people who got both vaccines at the same time, and their experience was not good.

However perhaps a different kind of Influenza vaccine combined with a COVID-19 vaccine might make things easier.?

This approach is now being tested.

Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Positive Topline Data for mRNA-based Combination Vaccine Program Against Influenza and COVID-19.

Lead formulations evaluated in the Phase 1/2 study demonstrated robust immune responses to influenza A, influenza B, and SARS-CoV-2 strains

Safety profile of the mRNA-based combination vaccine candidates consistent with the companies’ COVID-19 vaccine

The companies plan to start a pivotal Phase 3 trial in the coming months.

In this clinical trial, the vaccine candidates were compared to a licensed influenza vaccine and the companies’ Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent COVID-19 vaccine given at the same visit.

The data from the trial showed that the companies' lead formulations demonstrated robust immune responses to influenza A, influenza B, and SARS-CoV-2 strains.

pfizer.com/news/press-relea...

Dick

[Ernest2]

Hi Dick,

I'm just a simpleton, but some of these very powerful vaccinations can be a bit challenging I think especially if you have underlying health conditions/co-morbidities that you may or may not be aware of, so the vaccination may reveal those conditions. Therefore I've avoided both at the same time (having had a problem with the COVID one on its own at a time when I was taking statins). Just too many meds at the same time.

This new intelligent all in one then sounds like a good attempted move in the right direction. Many thanks for posting.

Best wishes,

Ernest

[Lenny123]

This is why this forum is so important. I would take vaccines one at time. Why? firstly be aware of possible underlying agenda, public health vs individual. Understandably we are encouraged to have both. But personally i resign myself to feeling pretty rough for a day or so after each, minimal exercise, napping a lot. No desire to have a worse reaction and not knowing which vaccine, or both caused it. The downside of course is going through this twice.

Dr George Lundgren, an astute commentator on Medscape, related his experience with the dual vaccine, which was worse than individual, suffice it to say that he says he won't be doing that again. Again, a series of one.

"You pays your money and you takes your chances".

[SFF95]

I had flu and Covid vaccines together this year and last year. Last year was a breeze. This year I had body aches. I had a fever after the second bivalent Covid booster earlier this year. No adverse reactions after the other 6 Covid vaccines or any of the dozens of flu vaccines I have had. I am treatment naive 5 years after CLL diagnosis. I would get the Covid and flu vaccine together again next year.

[W00dfin]

my hematologist told me to take them 4 weeks apart

[Katinlr]

This suggests that there may be an advantage in taking both at the same time.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Wendy328]

My oncologists suggested one week apart, two weeks after my obintuzabin infusion. I had no trouble at all. Hurt going in and just a minor sore are the next few days.

[bennevisplace]

Mostly, my side effects from taking both vaccines in one sitting were much the same as if taken separately. For me, the general rule is onset of soreness around the injection site after a couple of hours, and feeling a bit under the weather and "flu-ey" between12 and 24 hours after vaccination. Then I'm right as rain.

The difference this time was that 14 hours in, I started shivering as if in an ice-box (I was actually snugly tucked up in bed), and the chills continued for at least an hour before I drifted off to sleep. It was reminiscent of my initial infusion reaction to Rituximab 4 years ago. The question is: was this unprecedented, delayed reaction to a vaccine component (i.e. something in either the Pfizer BNT162b2 or the 2023-24 quadrivalent flu vaccine), or to the dual combination? Who knows.

[dhavlena]

Got 3 at once last week…covid, flu & shingles…still feeling punk…first couple of days felt like a dishrag…never again

[Viccll]

I did both at once and the next days were pretty sick. Chills and bodyaches , zero energy to do anything. I actually thought I caught Covid the day that I got the vaccine. That's how bad it was.

I still think I might've had Covid. I just recovered quick because I get antibody infusions , perhaps??