Flu Jab or Covid booster ..Which First

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.

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!!!!!

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!?

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.

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

*Pharmacist ?

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. ?

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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'.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Bea65, I'm having my flu jab - as it's available to me now. I'll wait a couple of weeks for the Covid booster. I can't see that it makes any difference which one is first but I think it's important to have a gap between them.

Does it really matter? I will go when invited.

My practice arranged the flu jabs before the arrangements for boosters were announced. So I am having the flu one on Saturday and will have to go back for the booster. If the government hadn't dragged its feet I could have had them both together.