With the holiday season upon us, the realization of missed Covid-19 and flu vaccinations may dawn as you prepare to gather with elderly relatives.
Fortunately, it’s not too late for your shots. But the idea of knocking them both out at once raises a critical question: Is it safe? The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests it as an option, but concerns linger.
Recent Medicare claims data analysis hinted at a slightly elevated, albeit rare, stroke risk in seniors receiving high-dose flu vaccines alongside Covid-19 shots. However, these risks—around 3 strokes per 100,000 doses of Pfizer’s bivalent Covid vaccine and 3 transient ischemic attacks per 100,000 doses of Moderna’s counterpart—remain statistically minimal. Conflicting studies fuel uncertainties; some findings didn’t align with the risk, maintaining CDC and FDA recommendations unchanged. Notably, this year’s Covid-19 vaccines targeted a single coronavirus strain.
Simultaneous vaccination may heighten temporary reactions, with fatigue, headache, and muscle pain reported most frequently, as per government studies.
CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen underscores the paramount importance of vaccination. She advocates for discussing personalized options with healthcare providers, especially during the early phase of the respiratory virus season.
But what about effectiveness? Recent research presented at the Vaccines 2023 conference highlights potential benefits. Healthcare workers receiving both flu and bivalent Covid-19 shots on the same day exhibited heightened antibody responses post-vaccination and six months later compared to those receiving separate shots. Susanna Barouch, leading the study, speculates that the flu vaccine could act as an adjuvant for the Covid vaccine, triggering a more robust immune response.
However, contradictory findings complicate this stance. Studies show inconclusive or opposing outcomes, emphasizing the need for further replication and validation before drawing definitive conclusions.
Dr. Stephen Moss from the University of Michigan echoes the ambiguity in findings. His study observed similar neutralizing antibody responses irrespective of separate or simultaneous vaccinations among Israeli healthcare workers. Similarly, a Netherlands study pointed to lower neutralization capacity in co-administered vaccines compared to separate ones.
Despite these nuances, Moss advocates for concurrent vaccinations from a broader public health standpoint, citing reduced healthcare encounters and minimized post-vaccine discomfort.
Reassurance stems from a Pfizer study, aligning health outcomes in individuals receiving combined or separate flu and Covid-19 vaccinations. Hospitalization, emergency room, and doctor’s visit rates were comparable between groups. Co-administration correlated with more Covid-19-related healthcare visits but reduced flu-associated medical needs, implying enhanced immune protection against flu infections.
Ultimately, vaccine choice may rest on personal preference. Dr. William Schaffner from Vanderbilt University advocates for combined shots, stressing the likelihood of a deferred vaccine becoming a missed opportunity, particularly during this phase of the season.
