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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director)
Tuesday October 15, the flu vaccination campaign officially begins. For fragile subjects, it is recommended to also be vaccinated against Covid-19. Is there a risk in being vaccinated against both viruses on the same day? The response from Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of Doctissimo.
Many French people are eligible for double vaccination against influenza and Covid-19. Is it risky to get vaccinated against both viruses on the same day? Let’s take stock with Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo.
Double vaccination concerns the most vulnerable people
According to the site vaccination-info-service.fr, several scientific studies have shown that “the administration of several vaccines at the same time (co-administered vaccines) is absolutely not dangerous for the immune system and does not compromise the effectiveness of vaccines.”
It is therefore entirely possible to carry out both vaccines on the same day. Dr Gérald Kierzek recommends having the injections carried out, “one in each arm”.
“It has never been proven that co-vaccination increases side effects, which are, by the way, minor. Children who receive 3 vaccines at the same time are proof of this: they generally tolerate it very well. Receiving a double injection is therefore not more risky” he recalls.
Double vaccination: who is affected?
The people targeted by the flu vaccination campaign are, according to the page dedicated to the subject, on the Public Service website:
- People aged 65 and over;
- People under 65 suffering from certain chronic illnesses (including children aged 6 months and over);
- Pregnant women;
- People suffering from obesity;
- People staying in a follow-up care establishment or in a medico-social accommodation establishment, whatever their age.
For vaccination against Covid-19, patients with dementia or Down syndrome, immunocompromised patients are added to this list.
Who can vaccinate you against these two pathologies?
Finally, know that you can of course have your vaccination carried out by your GP, but not only that. Nurses, pharmacists and midwives are authorized to vaccinate you.
As for children, midwives can vaccinate them, as can doctors, regardless of their age. Nurses can vaccinate children over 11 against the flu, as can pharmacists. Finally, for vaccination against Covid-19, nurses and pharmacists can carry it out in children aged 5 and over.
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