'Flu and covid jabs (different arms) at the same time ,with RA .

[Briefencounter]

I've just opted to have my flu and covid jabs at the same time , later in October , having read that it's perfectly safe .

On reflection, as I felt quite rough after having both 'flu and covid jabs , at different times , last year - I am wondering if I should cancel and have them at different times , again , this year .

I understand there's a possibility that we MAY get the bivalent Pfizer or Moderna booster to cover the initial and the Omicron viruses , which could be much stronger

Has anyone had the "double whammy" without problems 🤔?

[Hidden]

Yep. I had the flu jab in my dominant arm and the covid one in my non-dominant one. The flu jab isn’t a live vaccine, so you should just feel a bit cack for a few days.. Yay! 😂

[Briefencounter in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your quick reply. Last year was the first time I reacted to the 'flu jab . I know as my body is aging I get more reactions to various medications . I've had 2 AZ , 1 Pfizer , 2 Moderna and reacted , to a greater or lesser extent , to them all .

[Fruitandnutcase]

To be honest if you tend not to feel too good after vaccinations I’d just have them one at a time if it’s an option.I had just had lots of physio for a dodgy shoulder / upper arm last year and there was no way I was going to have any sort of injection into that arm in case I upset it again.

[Briefencounter in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thanks F&N , I'm beginning to think 2 separate jabs might be best .

[Chockyuk in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I agree with this. I have a rotator cuff injury and it hurts the muscle on my upper arm, so I’ve had the two jabs in my other arm, although at different times, but that was because I had my flu jab at Tesco and my Covid jab at the local vaccination centre.

I think I’ve been lucky though, I’ve had no side effects from either.

[helixhelix]

I did last year with no problems.

[Briefencounter in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks , helix .

[Titch55]

I had them both together last year - no problems.

[Briefencounter in reply to Titch55]

Thanks , Titch55

[Boxerlady]

I was lucky in that I had no problems with them separately and am planning to have them whenever/however they're offered this time. I have to say, though, that I would probably agree to have them together even if I had felt rough with them as it would get it over with and at least then I wouldn't feeling rough end up feeling rough twice!

[Briefencounter in reply to Boxerlady]

I can see your thinking , but I might end up feeling twice as rough . 😪

[Runrig01 in reply to Boxerlady]

I would do the same for the same reasoning. I usually get lots of side effects from vaccines, I think partly because of my adrenal insufficiency, and not producing any of the stress hormone cortisol. Any stress on the body makes me ill, so I’d rather get it all over in one swoop.

[Briefencounter in reply to Runrig01]

I may have to think again 😇

[Oshgosh]

I’ve hedged my bets and made an appointment at the pharmacy . As I’ve got auto immune conditions and lung fibrosis ( soon to go on Nintendanib) I will then have Covid at GP

[Briefencounter in reply to Oshgosh]

Thanks Oshgosh - I'm leaning in that direction .

[Oshgosh in reply to Briefencounter]

What has influenced me is the fact that last year the GPreceived their supply of flu vaccine 2 months after the pharmacy xx

[Knip]

I had my Covid at 5pm on the Friday last autumn and my flu jab the following morning. I was told that would be fine, but I did have one in each arm! I didn't get any side effects at all...although I was told by the retired doctor who gave me the Covid jab, that sometimes if you do get side effects it can indicate a good response. Has anyone else been told this?

[helixhelix in reply to Knip]

That sort of comment was widely reported, but don’t think there’s any evidence to back it up! I had zero response to nos 2 and 3, but teated ok for antibodies.

[Knip in reply to helixhelix]

That's encouraging helix. Thank you. Kx

[Evie3]

They told me i could have both together but I wont. I cant be doing with feeling rough, so not taking any chances. I have to have a non live Shingrix at some stage….keep putting that off 😵‍💫

[Briefencounter in reply to Evie3]

I'm just concerned that as I felt rough after last year's separate covid and 'flu jabs I might feel doubly rough having them both together.

[Evie3 in reply to Briefencounter]

My thoughts exactly…we just dont know 🤷‍♀️

[oldtimer2]

There is quite a bit of evidence to show that if you expect to get a reaction you are more likely to get one - the 'nocebo' effect.

I'm a firm believer in belief! I've had so many immunisations over the years that I do tend to be a bit optimistic that it won't affect me - and generally it doesn't. The only one that ever caused any major problems was a typhoid one, years ago when I passed out at the bus stop after waiting the statuatory time - very dramatic! Apart from a minor sore arm, I've been lucky with both flu and Covid injections, so I'm happy to have them whenever and wherever they are available.

[Briefencounter in reply to oldtimer2]

I tend to agree with you , oldtimer2 , as I've had many injections for travel over the years with little or no adverse effect . Therefore , I was surprised at the effect the first and subsequent covid jabs had on me . After years of having 'flu jabs without any problems, last year I felt quite rough after the 'flu jab . I guess it's just old age catching up with me .

[L-ttie]

Hi I’ve decided to go for separate injections because of how I reacted to the last two COVID vacines.The third one left me with a flare that lasted months and finished up with having to increasing my meds to get things under control again.The booster in June brought on COVID types symptoms for a week followed by on going unpleasant sinus problems.But on the plus side in July when I was away with my son and daughter in law who both tested positive during our holiday I didn’t catch it.

I’m due to have my shingles vaccine very soon so I feel there’s a lot going on ..and in...over a short period so spreading it out a bit may be better for me.

I could be completely wrong tho🥴

All the best whatever you decide.

[Briefencounter in reply to L-ttie]

Thanks L-ttie - when the shingles vaccine time came around for my age group , I understood that with RA I couldn’t have it because it was a “live” vaccine . Shortly afterwards I got shingles . Fortunately, it was fairly mild and amitriptyline helped with the nerve pain .

[L-ttie in reply to Briefencounter]

There is a non live vaccine available for those like us who are immune compromised with RA .Its given in 2 doses at least 6 weeks apart.This is the one I’m having through my gp surgery.Good news that you weren’t too badly affected.

[Oshgosh]

I also can’t face the *discussion at the go when I ask not to have both vaccines at once xx

[Flinda in reply to Oshgosh]

You could book yourself into Boots for a free Flu jab and then the GP for the other.

[Briefencounter in reply to Flinda]

I'm thinking of going to our local walkin centre for both - at different times . Just have to wait for the timetable to be announced.

[madme1]

I haven't had the double whammy, though moderna is the only vaccine that caused me to feel wiped out for about 2 days and unwell. I've had that one twice so I know that it's the culprit.

[Briefencounter in reply to madme1]

Me too ! Although all vaccines made me feel a bit 'meh' , moderna was the worst .

[Emye343 in reply to Briefencounter]

Hi Briefencounter,Something to bear in mind if you feel you reacted more to the Moderna than the other vaccines (I definitely did too; it’s apparently a stronger vaccine which is why they gave a half dose as a booster) is that the new omicron/wild type vaccine combo is also a Moderna.

By the way, I recently received the Shingrix (2 dose) shingles vaccine- we can have it precisely because it isn’t a live vaccine. Worth asking about?

[cathie]

Yes I did last year. No problem. And I'm quite an allergic kind of person

[Julia31]

Hi. I did that last year and was ok..arms just a bit sore for a day or two.

[Green230461]

I have felt rotten after both vaccines separately! Could not cope with double trouble personally 🤔

[Briefencounter]

My thinking , now .

[Aliceeliza]

Surgery have arranged my flu jab but not doing covid so I will be able to arrange covid in my own time. I want to know which jab, if either, causes problems for future reference

[Briefencounter in reply to Aliceeliza]

Hi Aliceeliza , as I’m immunocompromised I have had 5 covid vaccinations so far . In the following order 2 AstraZenica , 1 Pfizer ( booster ) and 2 Modernas ( boosters ) . To a greater or lesser extent they have all caused me ( and my husband - not immunocompromised) to feel rough for a couple of days . As we’re both 80 and retired we were able to take it easy for those days . I would not have liked to be teaching at the time . I would say the two Modernas gave the most noticeable reaction but I understand they are the strongest vaccines , but we only received 1/2 doses .

Having said that I also reacted to the ‘flu jab last year , for the first time . So maybe I’m just getting old and feeble . 😉

This is why I questioned having both jabs together . Good luck and don’t forget this is only my ( well husband too ) reaction . Other people have sailed through undaunted .

[Aliceeliza]

I am also immunocompromised and mid 70's. I have had 4 pfizer jabs so far and they have been ok but no idea which covid jab I will get next hence my plan to have flu and covid jabs separately

[Briefencounter in reply to Aliceeliza]

I think we may be getting the bivalent Moderna which attacks both the original and the later omicron viruses . That is from my understanding, if they have enough of the new vaccine .