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Flu Jab or Covid booster ..Which First

(123 Posts)
Bea65 Tue 14-Sept-21 11:38:24

My daughter has just reminded me about getting covid booster but my GP surgery has also reminded me to get the flu jab..what do you all think should be first...am hesitating about the covid booster?

MiniMoon Tue 14-Sept-21 19:41:54

I had my flu jab yesterday. It will be November before I am eligible for a Covid booster, but I will certainly have one.

jeanie99 Wed 15-Sept-21 01:50:56

My husband and I have our appointment for the Flu jab next week.
We were told a few weeks ago when we had our Shingles jabs by the nurse there was no chance of receiving the booster Covid vaccine at any time soon due to deliveries.
It's 6 months since I had my second jab so I guess my levels of protection have fallen.
It's a matter of waiting I guess.
We both continue to where our masks in any area that's crowded whether inside or out.

cookiemonster66 Wed 15-Sept-21 11:28:24

I am getting my flu jab next week, and have worked out the date 6 months from my 2nd covid jab when the booster will be due

runnerbean Wed 15-Sept-21 11:29:07

Apparently we will be offered a jab in each arm at the same time. As for me I will decline that as I want to know which shot I'm reacting to.

Missiseff Wed 15-Sept-21 11:31:24

Get them both. I'm having mine at the same time.

effalump Wed 15-Sept-21 11:32:11

Oh dear! Why not just roll up both sleeves at the same time. Think of the time it will save you, especially if you have to drive to your local GPs surgery and then you can carry on with your 'life'.

Hellsbelles Wed 15-Sept-21 11:36:27

We've just had our flu one this morning. She told us the vaccinations for both are starting next week.
Listening to the professors on TV , they are saying don't look to rush your covid booster , as they are only needed 6 months after last jab. The longer the timescale the longer the benefits of booster will last through the winter months. Our 6th month is not until end of October , so I'm hoping we won't be called until then .

Paperbackwriter Wed 15-Sept-21 11:38:32

Strange how you can have (in theory) both shots on the same day. My husband had a pneumonia vaccine about 3 days before his 2nd Covid one was due (because he's an idiot). On the Covid day they sent him home and said he needed 2 weeks between the two shots. Maybe the flu one is so very different or something.

Nannan2 Wed 15-Sept-21 11:39:27

Booked all 3 of us in for flu jab this saturday (sons are vulnerable, im over 50 with medical problems.) at boots as its not in till friday.They never get it in at our drs till late october/early November so as youngest (18) is back in college im making sure he gets it asap.If they call us for covid booster (highly likely) then we will just need that. I wish our g.p's offered flu jab earlier but they never seem to make sure they get it in early?Wouldnt be due covid booster till November though, if its 6mths after 2nd dose.

greenlady102 Wed 15-Sept-21 11:41:48

They said yesterday that over 50's will be invited in tranches and by name like last time. I will get my flu jab when I can and if I haven't had it by the time I get invited for covid booster I will get them together if I can.

Bea65 Wed 15-Sept-21 11:41:58

runnerbean I'm with you on this ...not 2 at same time ..had reactions with both covid jabs..the first one affected my legs /mobility for couple of days and the second one, felt unwell..high temp and arm became very swollen and inflamed..went to pharmacy as couldn't get thru to GP and pharmacist advised to go to A&E as inflammation was spreading to shoulder..didn't go to A&E as felt it wasn't urgent -put cold compress on arm and was ok but took few days.

ReadyMeals Wed 15-Sept-21 11:42:08

I had the impression that they were going to arrange things so you got both at the same appointment.

greenlady102 Wed 15-Sept-21 11:43:07

Paperbackwriter

Strange how you can have (in theory) both shots on the same day. My husband had a pneumonia vaccine about 3 days before his 2nd Covid one was due (because he's an idiot). On the Covid day they sent him home and said he needed 2 weeks between the two shots. Maybe the flu one is so very different or something.

yes very different. Earlier this year, a specific piece of research was done about gving flu and covid vac together. The husband of a friend of mine volunteered for it

greenlady102 Wed 15-Sept-21 11:44:52

ReadyMeals

I had the impression that they were going to arrange things so you got both at the same appointment.

nope. I think they dropped that idea as the standard when the "booster no earlier than 6 months after second vac" thing was decided on.

Sparklefizz Wed 15-Sept-21 11:52:33

Charleygirl5

I had my flu jab last week, mainly because the pharmacist did not know when the next supply would arrive. I also wanted a few weeks between jabs in case there was a problem with one. I would never have them at the same time because of reactions.

Ditto.
I had my flu jab on Monday. I would definitely not want both on the same day.

Nannan2 Wed 15-Sept-21 11:52:33

Paperbackwriter- we had pneumonia shot last year, for the first time ever, they gave one of my sons it with the flu shot, at boots, and it was fine, but he was only 21 then so don't know if that made a difference, or just cause its only flu jab he had it with, not covid one? My youngest son had pneumonia one separately much sooner and so did i- but he was really ill afterwards for about two weeks. So maybe covid jab is given separate to the pneumonia one as its so strong or something? It lasts up to ten years pharmasist said. ?

Nannan2 Wed 15-Sept-21 11:53:28

*Pharmacist ?

Nannan2 Wed 15-Sept-21 11:56:35

By name? Oh good at least i wont be too far down then?

Teacheranne Wed 15-Sept-21 11:57:47

I read that we should not have the flu jab too early in the Autumn as its effectiveness does not last for months so you run the risk of catching flu in January or February which is actually when cases are at their highest. This might be why doctors tend to arrange their inoculations slightly later in the year? I can’t remember where I read that, but I might ask the practice nurse when I get my blood pressure checked next week.

Nannan2 Wed 15-Sept-21 12:01:04

Where was everyone getting flu jabs last week?? I wish we could have so son would have been 'dosed' early as possible for college. None of chemists seemed to get it in till 17th&after, and as i said our docs never get them early even though they know its coming round every year!?

Edith81 Wed 15-Sept-21 12:02:27

Flu jab??? a funny enough, I thought flu had been totally eradicated this year because I’ve not heard of one death because of it. Very strange!!!!!

grannyactivist Wed 15-Sept-21 12:03:13

My surgery has only got the vaccine for the under 65’s available at the moment, due to disruption in supply. Unfortunately they had already started booking appointments before they were told the over 65’s vaccine would not be available and so they had to spend precious time informing all the patients who’d booked that their appointments had been cancelled and will now need to be re-booked when supplies have arrived. The vaccine for under 65’s is being rolled out as normal as supplies of that vaccine haven’t been affected.

I can’t see it mentioned up thread, but at a recent PPG meeting we were informed that the Pfizer vaccine has a mandated 15 minute wait afterwards and so at our health centre this would make it impossible logistically to do the two vaccines at the same time.

ElaineI Wed 15-Sept-21 12:03:24

I think we are getting them together if over 50. Due pneumonia this year so don't fancy 3 though babies boosters are sometimes 3.

wifey2003 Wed 15-Sept-21 12:03:56

i read an article yesterday advising the later you leave the flu jab would stand you in good stead over the usual worst months, my hubby and i have booked October for flu jabs giving us 6 months of protection.... Booster Covid jabs ( when made available ) done in mid November....

Nannan2 Wed 15-Sept-21 12:07:59

I see what you mean Teacheranne, but if my sons not jabbed for stuff at start of a school/college year when he gets ill (which he inevitably does) it wipes him out for weeks usually. (Happened last year, & he'd only been back 3days! Put him behind from beginning, then with covid lockdowns & closures on top he's ended up redoing whole year again.Eventually his neurologist added him to shielding list.