'Flu and covid jabs at same time !: I'm 83 and have had... - NRAS

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'Flu and covid jabs at same time !

Briefencounter profile image
47 Replies

I'm 83 and have had RA since I was 48 . I normally book my 'flu and covid jabs separately. This year I've "bitten the bullet" and booked them at the same time ( different arms ) at the end of October.

I've always felt quite "meh" after the covid jab and last year I felt similarly after the 'flu jab , for the first time .

Now I'm wondering if I should cancel and go back to the original 'flu and covid at separate times . I know the published criteria is that it's SAFE to have both at the same time .

Any advice from personal experience?

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47 Replies
OSTEOARTHRITISRA profile image
OSTEOARTHRITISRA

Hi not sure if everyone is different though maybe

I always get mine at same time

I've no issiues with getting at same time

Sometimes small effects but not as bad as the first time I get jab

Lots get oth at the same time

Briefencounter profile image
Briefencounter in reply toOSTEOARTHRITISRA

Thanks for your reply ! I hope I might get a few more "go for it" !

Boxerlady profile image
Boxerlady

I've made the same arrangement for the first time this year (4th Oct) so will be watching this thread with interest 😁

rmros profile image
rmros in reply toBoxerlady

I haven't been invited for a Covid jab yet and my flu vaccine if booked for 4th October.

I don't know if they've changed the eligibility or I'm just further down the list but I'd probably prefer to have them together if I'm going to have it.

Rusticgarden profile image
Rusticgarden in reply tormros

Autumn vaccine for immunosuppressed,over 75 yrs or in a care home

Runrig01 profile image
Runrig01 in reply toRusticgarden

People in the clinical risk groups are also entitled this year. My hubby is 59 and diabetic and been invited for both. Anyone in grouos 3 or 4 of the green book qualify.

Booster 2024
rmros profile image
rmros in reply toRunrig01

I've been eligible for all the previous ones and nothing has changed in my circumstances, but I haven't heard anything. I usually get an email.

I know they come in phases but I'm only concerned because I recently changed GP practices and wonder if I've fallen off a list in the process.

Runrig01 profile image
Runrig01 in reply tormros

I’d call the surgery to check. My gp has my biologic on my repeat prescription for info only, so that it highlights eligibility on their system as well as shiw if it interacts with meds they prescribe. Mine was via a notification on nhs app.

rmros profile image
rmros in reply toRunrig01

I'm going in tomorrow for a blood test so I'll ask. It was a really hard decision to change GPs so I hope it doesn't end up being a lot of hassle for nothing.

Bails67 profile image
Bails67 in reply toRusticgarden

I am 56 and eligible booked in in 2 weeks. Check with your nurse. I inject with Humira.

MistyDay profile image
MistyDay

I would go with what you feel comfortable doing, and if you decide to go for different times how easy it would be for you to get there. My GP practice are doing both together and say it is safe, but to have a 2 -3 week between these and the RSV vaccine which I have recently had. My local chemists and some supermarkets do the flu vaccine each winter . I have decided to have the covid vaccine at my GP practice then have the flu vaccine a few weeks later at my local pharmacy. Trials have been carried out on the safety of doing them together, and show it is safe, but I could not find how many in the trial were elderly, with several health conditions and on immunosupressants . All vaccines and medications have some risk but the benefits outweigh the risk for most of us.

Jackie1947 profile image
Jackie1947

Had them done last year together let's say never again.

Rusticgarden profile image
Rusticgarden

Both vaccines aren't live so shouldn't be a problem

Ant457 profile image
Ant457

I had them both together last year, and felt awful for a few days after. I usually have them separately without either causing problems. I think last year’s flu vaccine may have been quite a hard hitting one, but I haven’t heard anything about this year’s.

Briefencounter profile image
Briefencounter in reply toAnt457

Yes , I felt quite poorly after the 'flu jab last year .

Mistydawn profile image
Mistydawn

I would have them separately as it’s a huge overload for your body to deal with having both at the same time. Good luck

Briefencounter profile image
Briefencounter in reply toMistydawn

I'm beginning to feel the same .

CarolKate profile image
CarolKate

I had one in each arm at the same time, it was fine. The flu vaxx arm was slightly tender, the covid one fine.

Briefencounter profile image
Briefencounter in reply toCarolKate

Thanks ! Still trying to make my mind up .

Runrig01 profile image
Runrig01

I usually have mine separately, but have been invited for both on 4th October. I’m on MTX as well as biologic, and the advice was to stop MTX for 2 weeks, and my rheumatologist said to do the same for flu vaccine, so this way I only miss 2 weeks rather than 4. Keeping fingers crossed I don’t regret it, as I don’t produce any cortisol to deal with stress on the body, so can feel quite rough anyway 🤞

Briefencounter profile image
Briefencounter in reply toRunrig01

Yes - I've felt rough after having each jab separately . I wonder how easily it would be to just have one jab at my appointment for both . Then make a further appointment for the declined jab . Now that I've made the appointment online it doesn't appear that I can change it - I just get the date and time when I click on the link .

ABwn profile image
ABwn

Had both together last year and am doing the same this year. No problems. Good luck.

Briefencounter profile image
Briefencounter

Thank you ! I'm on MTX and sulphasalazine . I've not been advised to drop the MTX . I may chat to my nurse before I go for the jab to see if this might help .

Runrig01 profile image
Runrig01 in reply toBriefencounter

There were a few studies, showing a reduction in antibodies for those using MTX, and the guidance was to miss 2 doses if stable, This website explains, and links to the research.

creakyjoints.org/living-wit...

Found the BSR advice

rheumatology.org.uk/news/de...

Boxerlady profile image
Boxerlady in reply toRunrig01

That's another good reason for me to have it asap as I've got to pause my MTX for root canal next week 😊

Briefencounter profile image
Briefencounter in reply toRunrig01

Thanks for those studies . I managed to avoid getting covid until I went with my husband to A&E on Christmas Day evening ( unrelated incidence ) this year . He got it too ! My covid experience was quite mild , didn't feel as ill as after receiving the 'flu and covid jab separately last year . But they kept me in for a night , just in case .

Boxerlady profile image
Boxerlady

Since posting yesterday I've realised that our pharmacy (round the corner) is already offering them so I've decided to go there. I've always had mine there before but had booked with the surgery this time because they contacted me before I'd even thought about it. I've never had a bad reaction to the flu jab but my last COVID one knocked me back for a few days so I've decided to have that one today (quiet few days ahead anyway) and the flu one either next week or the week after. I can cancel the surgery appointment and release it for someone who hasn't got a pharmacy so close to them.

Boxerlady profile image
Boxerlady in reply toBoxerlady

Update - when I went to the pharmacy they said that they haven't got the vaccines yet, the date was on their app in error! They said that none are being released until 3rd October which I now realise is why the surgery is offering them then 🙄 I'll still probably go to the pharmacy and have them separately though as that's easier than going to the surgery.

Otto11 profile image
Otto11

Hi personally I wouldn’t have both together but I can see the pros & cons. I’m a lightweight & always have reactions to most things. Isn’t the idea of having them both together a money making thing for GP’s yet again. Save’s them money if they do both together in one visit.

Briefencounter profile image
Briefencounter in reply toOtto11

Hmm !

VS1955 profile image
VS1955

My mum's 91 and has hers at same time with no issues. Everyone is different though

Chris1940 profile image
Chris1940

I’m 83 and had both Covid & Flu vaccinations at same time In October 2023. Medical advice at that time was that research had shown it was beneficial to do so and I will be following the same procedure this year. My sister who is 4 years younger had the vaccinations separately with a 2 week interval and was very ill after the Covid vaccination. We are all different but if we have any doubts we should take advice from a medical source we trust implicitly and not rely too much on the experience of others

Briefencounter profile image
Briefencounter in reply toChris1940

Thanks ! I'm speaking to my nurse next week , when I have a blood test .

Aliceeliza profile image
Aliceeliza

That's the problem. I don't trust any medical source implicitly anymore.

cyberbarn profile image
cyberbarn

My son and I have always had them at the same time if offered (we no longer qualify for covid vax, only flu) and have had no problems. We also always have them in the same arm. As my son said, he would rather have one sore arm than two. He prefers to sleep on his right side so has both in his left arm. If he had one in each, how would he sleep! The nurse conceded he had a good point.

Briefencounter profile image
Briefencounter in reply tocyberbarn

I have read that you can have them both in the same arm . As long as they're more than an inch apart .

cathie profile image
cathie

I've had both covid and flu together and nothing untoward. I usually get very shivery after the covid, but just wrap up, take a paracetamol as advised and its over by the morning at the latest. Its one less trip to vaccine centre which I like

Happy5 profile image
Happy5

Have had mine at the same time , use paracetamol to minimise the symptoms. Not been offered them same time recently.

Trec profile image
Trec

I always have mine separately as I always have a bad reaction to covid vaccines which usually means at least a day in bed after it. None so bad as my third Pfizer though when I had Myocarditis after it. I’m usually ok after my flu vaccine but just don’t think it’s worth the risk of having them together when it’s possible to have then separately and my GP supports me in this. I’m 85 and have heard nothing about the Covid one yet nor the new one related to respiratory conditions even though I have asthma.

HGCCNM profile image
HGCCNM

I took both together in the same arm last week and have been fine. The shingles vaccine was terrible for me, but these two weren’t bad. I always get swollen lymph nodes for a couple weeks and feel a little tired for a few days afterwards. I did take Paracetamol the day of and the next day which helped, I think.

Good luck! 💉💉

Briefencounter profile image
Briefencounter in reply toHGCCNM

Paracetemol sounds like plan 🤔

Janji profile image
Janji

You are a warrior and have struggled with this for such a long time, since you were 48. I got diagnosed at 49 and am now 55.I don't have any advice about your question, but you have inspired me, so thank you 🙏

Briefencounter profile image
Briefencounter in reply toJanji

Thank you ! That's very kind of you . ☺️ I can assure you I don't feel much like a warrior during a flare 😱😉

AW600 profile image
AW600

Hi, I personally felt awful by having both jabs on the same day. It flared my RA up for 3 months. I would definitely say have them separately. I am 44 and I have decided not to have either this year

Briefencounter profile image
Briefencounter

Thanks ! I'm rapidly moving in that direction !

ABwn profile image
ABwn

I have both at the same time with just a small effect, tiredness, but nothing to complain about.

Put it this way - no worse than I feel normally.

Briefencounter profile image
Briefencounter in reply toABwn

Thanks for replying ! I've chatted with the nurse at my HC who understands my reluctance to have both at the same time , especially as last time I had a pretty uncomfortable time from both vaccinations , separately . I won't be having them at the same time . 😕

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