Get your flu and COVID shots at the same time, health experts urge

globalnews.ca:

As autumn rolls in, health experts are giving the green light for Canadians to double up on their vaccinations, as getting both the flu and COVID-19 shots at the same time can provide an added layer of defence against respiratory illnesses.

Although the influenza vaccine and the updated COVID-19 shot are not currently available, experts anticipate their rollout in mid-October, with the timing depending on the province or territory.

While these vaccines are on the horizon, experts understand that many Canadians may still be cautious about receiving both shots.

“I think people are tired of vaccines in general — of the COVID vaccine for sure. But in mid-October, when we launch the public health campaigns for vaccination, we want people to think about getting their COVID shot and their flu shot at the same time,” said Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre.

“If we let our guard down and we have too low an uptake of vaccination for COVID and flu, that will lead to increased transmission and will potentially stress the health care system more significantly than it can bear,” he added.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) said anyone above six months of age can get an influenza vaccine and a COVID-19 shot at the same appointments.

The decision to administer both vaccines at once is “patient-based,” explained Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious disease physician and associate professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.

But he assured Canadians that getting the vaccines at the same time is perfectly safe and effective.

“Absolutely, you can get them together,” he said. “We have data about co-administration of flu and COVID vaccine suggesting there’s fairly significant safety