The flu vaccination campaign is underway in France in November 2022. The ministry recalls that it is advisable to also be vaccinated against Covid when you are a person at risk of serious forms.
The 2022-2023 seasonal flu vaccination campaign is possible in France for all French people at the moment, at risk or not. For the people at risk of severe forms of influenza and Covidthey are recommended toe vaccinate against both viruses simultaneously. “Co-vaccination against Covid-19 and against influenza must be encouraged” recalled the General Directorate of Health in September following the advice of the High Authority of Health. Reminder of the procedures for people who need to be vaccinated.
Can we get vaccinated against Covid and the flu at the same time?
For the High Authority of Healththere is nothing to worry about: “Co-administration of flu and Covid-19 vaccines is safe.” The production of these two vaccines can thus be “concomitant” in order to avoid any additional delay in the administration of one or the other of these injections. “Both injections can be performed the same day, but at two separate vaccination sites – a vaccine in each arm” specifies the authority.
What is the interval between the two vaccines?
For people who could not receive the booster dose against Covid-19 (or a first or a second dose of this vaccine) and the influenza injection simultaneously, there is no there is no time limit between the two vaccinations. This rule also applies to any association between vaccines against Covid-19 and other vaccines in the vaccination schedule. For people aged over 60 and those under 60 at risk of developing a severe form of the disease who have not received their second booster dose (4th dose) recommended within the recommended timeframe (3 or 6 months depending on age and date of last injection or infection), HAS recommends do not delay their vaccination.
According to Directorate General of Healthco-administration of flu and Covid-19 vaccines is possible in a Covid vaccination center if the person shows up with their flu vaccine. In this case, only professionals authorized to perform flu vaccination (doctor, midwife, pharmacist, private nurse) can perform this injection in a vaccination centre. Simultaneous vaccination is also possible in pharmacies for people targeted by the recommendations.
Are the two vaccines still as effective?
According to the data of the English test ComFluCOVrelayed by the HAS, the co-administration of vaccines against influenza and COVID-19 is generally well tolerated without diminishing vaccine-induced immune responses to either vaccine.
Can it be dangerous?
The Directorate General of Health reassures by recalling that “long-standing experience in vaccination shows that the co-administration of several vaccines is not not dangerous for the immune system“.
Source : Booster vaccine strategy against Covid-19. HAS. September 20, 2022 / Launch of the autumn vaccination campaign against Covid, DGS, September 28, 2022.