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Flu or Covid

(37 Posts)
Kiwiqueen123 Wed 22-Oct-25 08:50:13

Just wondering if anyone else has this. DH and I had both the flu and Covid injections in the same arm. Absolutely fine for a couple of days then three days after developed a horrid sore throat and chesty cold. Lasted three or four days and I was fine, then Sunday evening it returned as a muzzy head and a cough. Unable to sleep last night, very hot and coughing etc.

Could it be the result of having both together. Anybody feeling the same.

Sago Wed 22-Oct-25 08:52:31

I’m just recovering from a bout of Covid, I had all the above symptoms.

RosieandherMaw Wed 22-Oct-25 09:07:28

I doubt it, something to do with live vaccines (or not)
I too had both , same time, same arm and apart from feeling very sleepy for about 36 hours no side effects at all.

Georgesgran Wed 22-Oct-25 09:13:51

No side effects at all for me. I had both jabs together. The pharmacist went to great lengths to explain that they would not give me a dose of ‘flu or covid - contrary to what some believe. I never thought they did that anyway.
Ironically both DD’s in their 40’s are off work with severe cases of Covid.

TheWeirdoAgain60 Wed 22-Oct-25 09:16:38

I've had various vaccines/injections, then got either COVID or the flu, I couldn't work out which one it was!

It lasted a few days and then disappeared.

Franbern Wed 22-Oct-25 09:19:29

This 'myth' of the vaccines giving you the disease has been around for a long time. Of course, total rubbish.
The double does (one in each arm), can cause sore arm(s), and often result in 24=36 hours of tiredness as body adjusts.
However, at this time of year, anyone getting these jabs may well have infected with either of these illnesses before getting the jabs, and the full effects of that illness will appear to be related to the injections.
However, if they had not had that injection, would probably actually be far more ill.

PaynesGrey Wed 22-Oct-25 09:27:43

Exactly.

You cannot get flu from a flu vaccine. Nor can you get Covid from a Covid vaccine.

You may experience mild flu or Covid-like symptoms as the immune system mounts a response to the vaccines(s).

Both vaccines take up to two weeks to become fully effective and even then may not be become so in people who are very old or immuno-compromised.

As neither vaccine can stop someone from catching flu or Covid, it is always possible to have caught the virus(es) anyway.

When I went for my Covid jab on 1 October - the first day the pop-up opened this season, the tiny waiting area was jammed. A couple of people waiting had hacking coughs and could have been spreading whatever they had to other people waiting.

RosieandherMaw Wed 22-Oct-25 09:29:33

TheWeirdoAgain60

I've had various vaccines/injections, then got either COVID or the flu, I couldn't work out which one it was!

It lasted a few days and then disappeared.

Unlikely if it only lasted a few days! You got off lightly and I think you’d have known if it was either!

keepingquiet Wed 22-Oct-25 09:51:58

Yes, neither flu nor Covid lasts a few days. Now you're feeling better get on with your life.

Athrawes Wed 22-Oct-25 11:40:07

DH and I had the 2 jabs and it was fine just an ache for the rest of the day- so fingers crossed for the future!

Grannmarie Wed 22-Oct-25 13:53:59

My flu jag is arranged for November 9th, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to get it as I've Covid at the moment, tested positive yesterday.

Does covid have to be out of your system for a certain time before you can have the flu jag? No idea if, or when, I'm likely to be offered the Covid jag.

Debbi58 Wed 22-Oct-25 15:16:03

My sister and her husband had the same reaction to their jabs this year

Shelflife Wed 22-Oct-25 15:24:04

Had flu and covid jabs last week both in same arm - sore arm for a few days as I expected, other than that I was fine thank goodness.

Sarnia Wed 22-Oct-25 15:31:51

I had my flu/covid jabs last Saturday. The nurse used both arms and advised me to take 2 paracetamol when I got home as I always have a reaction to these injections. Despite the tablets I still felt achy and unwell the following day but it's a small price to pay for some protection during the winter months. Perhaps you were starting with the colds which have been widespread recently. Hope you feel better soon.

AGAA4 Wed 22-Oct-25 16:02:04

Bothe my DDs have had covid recently. There are a lot of viruses about. I've had my flu and covid jabs a few weeks ago and was fine.
The jabs don't give you these illnesses.

Alison333 Thu 23-Oct-25 13:51:09

Kiwiqueen123 is not saying the jabs gave her Covid or flu, but asking if anybody else had the same kind of reactions, if they also had both jabs together.

Romola Thu 23-Oct-25 13:51:49

It's quite common to feel wiped out the day after the jabs, but it is not possible to "catch" flu or Covid from them.
There seems to be a lot of colds and flu-like, possibly Covid, infections about at the moment.

RinseAndRepeat Thu 23-Oct-25 14:03:19

As said, Flu and Covid boosters do not contain any live viruses. I tend to get redness at both injection sites which goes away after a couple of days. I was told that this is the result of a sub-dermal allergic reaction.

When people comment on live viruses they may be thinking about Zostavax which is a live-attenuated vaccine for shingles that is being replaced with Shingrix vaccine: a non-live recombinant vaccine with higher efficacy, a two-dose schedule, and a much better safety profile for immunocompromised individuals.

Having had both doses of Shringrix, I can understand why the American CDC reports that many people do not return for the second dose. It took me out for about 3 days, and the second dose was worse. The GP giving me my Covid and Flu jabs last week said that it is likely that Shringrix will have a 10 year booster to maintain the 93% protection against Shingles. I can’t wait!

I have also had a RSV injection this year which had absolutely no adverse effects.

AlpineGranny Thu 23-Oct-25 14:06:27

Had flu jab 4 weeks ago, covid vacc 2 weeks ago. Now have a shocking cold, headache, cough all flu like but might test. May be it could have been worse (possibly!) with out jabs.

Barbadosbelle Thu 23-Oct-25 15:02:28

Kiwiqueen123

No, not possible.

We had both on 4th October and we were asked, as usual, if we wanted them in separate arms or the same one, and as usual we said "opposites please".

My Covid arm hurt a bit if l lay on it in bed. But only for a second on the first night.

But no, there's no way the jabs could give you the actual disease itself.
.

Essexgirl145 Thu 23-Oct-25 15:09:27

Paynesgrey......Well it was a nurse that told me that can get flu from the vaccine and I did and I gave it to the rest of the family. they were'nt well pleased I can tell you.

Barbadosbelle Thu 23-Oct-25 15:10:55

Sarnia

The Vaccine location is just a 10-minute drive from my house and I always take a paracetamol just before leaving.

Before doing this I did get quite nasty headaches after the jab/s but taking the tab beforehand seems to nip it in the bud - and I don't need another pill later.

The Covid arm can ache a bit though if I lay on it that night, but it's gone in minutes (the ache, not the arm!).
.

Dreadwitch Thu 23-Oct-25 15:15:29

It's not the vaccines unless the flu was a live virus, in which case you might feel a bit groggy.

PaynesGrey Thu 23-Oct-25 15:22:39

Essexgirl145

Paynesgrey......Well it was a nurse that told me that can get flu from the vaccine and I did and I gave it to the rest of the family. they were'nt well pleased I can tell you.

She was wrong and should know better. You cannot get the flu from the vaccine but you can have the vaccine and still catch flu from someone else. The vaccine just teaches your immune system to mount a better response so the illness is not as bad as it could have been.

www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/influenza-are-we-ready/5-myths-about-the-flu-vaccine

PaynesGrey Thu 23-Oct-25 15:29:59

Barbados Belle. Do you remember the first one or two Covid vaccinations where were given an advice leaflet which explained how to deal with possible side effects? Taking paracetamol was one of them. I have the vaccine, and take paracetamol immediately afterwards. Ten vaccinations now and I have never had any side effects beyond a sore arm for a day or so.