Yes, It Is Safe To Get The COVID And Flu Vaccines At The Same Time
This year marks the first time you can get a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu shot at the same time. As the U.S. approaches flu season, which typically kicks off in October, some are wondering if it’s safe to get multiple vaccines in one visit.
“Getting both your COVID and flu vaccines at the same time is safe,” said Dr. Erin DeLaney, a professor in UAB’s Department of Family and Community Medicine.
In fact, doctors at UAB recommend it.
“Putting two vaccines together or administering two vaccines at the same time is not new,” said Dr. Molly Fleece, professor at UAB’s Division of Infectious Diseases.
For example, she said it’s not uncommon for patients to get their pneumococcal vaccine at the same time as their tetanus booster.
“[It] has been looked at for many years and has been safe,” Fleece said. “There’s nothing that makes the COVID or the flu vaccine different, where those two could not be administered at the same time or in the same visit.”
As of last week, Alabama had recorded only four positive influenza B cases across the state, according to Fleece.
“It is still very early, and we anticipate that these numbers will go up sometime this fall and certainly this winter,” she said.
Health professionals expect to see more cases of the flu this year because masking requirements have been relaxed and more people are getting together.
The CDC has also said it’s safe to get both vaccines at once, and doctors there have told NPR that the side effects are generally the same as when getting a single vaccine.
Meanwhile, Alabama could be seeing a decline in the COVID-19 surge that’s ravaged the state for weeks, according to data from the state department of health.
On Sunday, the state recorded 722 new coronavirus cases, the fewest recorded in a single day since early July. As of Monday, there were 1,947 hospitalizations, the fewest since Aug. 9.
‘Sorry, Baby’ is a story about pain and healing you haven’t heard before
Eva Victor wrote, directed and stars in this tender film about a woman trying to make sense of life after sexual assault. Although very much a drama, Sorry, Baby showcases Victor's comic smarts.
Greetings from New Delhi, India, where performing monkeys spark delight — and ambivalence
Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.
Israel strikes Syria’s capital Damascus
The Israel military said targets included a Syrian military compound in Damascus as well as a target near the Syrian presidential palace. Israel's defense minister said "painful strikes have begun."
The best games of 2025 so far, picked by NPR’s staff
From indies like Blue Prince to big console exclusives like Donkey Kong Bananza, NPR staff and contributors round up their favorite games of the year so far.
Israel strikes in Damascus as Syrian forces clash with Druze groups
The strike came as clashes continued in the southern Syrian city of Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed.
Even healthy brains decline with age. Here’s what you can do
Scientists are finding ways to minimize the effects of aging on the brain. Here are some ways to keep it healthy.
