Flu vs Covid-19 vaccine: are they safe together?

WITH flu season upon us, many people wonder if taking the flu vaccine and Covid-19 vaccine at the same time is safe.

Head of the South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University and chairperson of the National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee (NISEC), Professor Hannelie Meyer said it is safe and both the Covid-19 and influenza vaccine can be administered concurrently with other vaccines as well.

Are there any side effects?

Meyer said there are no interactions between the two vaccines, which is why they can be administered at the same time.
“Any side effects experienced will be specific to a particular vaccine, and as a result of the body mounting an immune response. This is why it is recommended that the vaccines be administered on different arms – the Covid-19 vaccine should be administered on the left arm and the flu on the right arm. Should there be any local reactions post-vaccination, the vaccine associated with the reaction can be identified?
“Most of the side effects for both vaccines are mild and usually subside within two to three days without requiring medical treatment. The most common side effects reported for both include pain at the injection site, muscle ache, fatigue, and a headache.”
When asked about the safety of the vaccines for children, she said, “In South Africa, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) will only authorise the use of any vaccine or medicine once there is sufficient evidence of the safety of such a product. Currently, the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine is registered for use in children from the age of 12 and above.”

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The reason for both jabs
Cautioning people, Meyer said, “Winter is almost here, and both the SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses spread more easily in Winter when people spend a lot of time indoors in poorly ventilated spaces. Although the symptoms of Covid-19 and flu are very similar, the Covid-19 vaccine will not provide protection against influenza.
“Similarly, the influenza vaccine does not protect against Covid-19. Hence, it is important to get both vaccines as soon as possible and since you can get them both at once, you will provide yourself with double protection with one visit to your local pharmacy or clinic.”
She said that adults and children with chronic conditions, the elderly, pregnant women, children under the age of two years, and immuno-compromised individuals are at an increased risk of being severely affected by influenza, should they get infected.

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“Also, healthcare workers are at an increased risk of being exposed to influenza by their patients. These individuals should therefore be prioritised for vaccination.”
Speaking about how the flu vaccine differs from the Covid-19 one, she said the two provide protection against infection by two completely different viruses.
“The influenza vaccine protects against infection from two strains of the influenza A and two strains of the influenza B viruses, whereas the Covid-19 vaccine protects against SARS-CoV-2. All vaccines work in slightly different ways, however, they all prime or train the immune system to identify and neutralise disease-causing micro-organisms without exposing the person to the actual micro-organism.

“This means that when exposed to the micro-organism, the body already has antibodies and immune cells to be able to fight the virus before it can multiply and cause disease. Importantly, both protect against severe disease, hospitalisation, and death.”

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