Vaccine Questions Concerns Sparked More Direction From Acr
While doctors have questions regarding how the rheumatic disease itself, or the drugs used to treat it, interferes with vaccine efficacy, people living with RMD may worry that the vaccinations will trigger a flare-up. These guidelines were issued to address the concerns of patients as well as doctors, Bass said in a press statement.
Daniel Hernandez, MD, director of medical affairs and Hispanic outreach for the arthritis advocacy and research organization CreakyJoints, says that rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic disease patients have been voicing a lot of questions about vaccines.
ACR is making a strong statement that a seasonal flu vaccine and a pneumococcal vaccine should be two to prioritize in your next discussion with your rheumatologist, says Dr. Hernandez.
Generally speaking, the changes will mean briefer wait times between shots. The new guidance specifies vaccination timing for people on immunosuppressive meds for RMD.
How Safe Is The Flu Vaccine
The influenza vaccine is very safe. It cannot cause the flu. Side effects are usually mild and can include:
- mild soreness where the needle went into the arm for 1 to 2 days.
- a mild fever or aches for the first day or 2 after immunization.
Do not give your child ibuprofen or acetaminophen before or around the time of vaccination as it does not prevent the pain of injection and it could have an impact on how well the vaccine works. These medications can be used to treat fever, pain, or other bothersome side effects if they develop after vaccination.
Mixing And Matching Covid
This is different from getting multiple vaccines in the same sitting. If you are in a location and can get your third shot or COVID-19 booster, and the type you received for your first two shots in the series is not available, its reasonable to receive the other type as a booster, Dr. Sobhanie says.
This only applies to the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, however.
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Can You Get Multiple Vaccines At Once
The technical term for getting multiple vaccines together is vaccine coadministration. And the answer to whether this is a good idea depends largely on your age and health status, the vaccines youre considering, how urgent the need is to start building up protection against said threat or threats, and personal preferences, experts say.
As a general rule, there are very few vaccines that cant be coadministered, says L.J. Tan, MS, PhD, the chief policy and partnership officer at the Immunization Action Coalition in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Vaccines commonly administered together include DTaP and Tdap, which protect against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis , and MMR, which prevents measles, mumps, and rubella.
When vaccines are coadministered, they should go in different locations or anatomical sites, according to Dr. Tan. It can be in the same arm if they are spaced an inch apart, he says. This allows your doctor or pharmacist to identify which vaccine caused a reaction, should one occur.
Here, experts break down which vaccines can be given at the same time and which ones cant. Plus, find out why you still need to wear a mask indoors if youre vaccinated.
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How Should You Space Out Your Flu Vaccine And Covid
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – As COVID-19 surges into the beginning of fall, many health experts are looking ahead to the possibility of a nasty flu season as well.
You could be due for your COVID-19 booster shot around the same time that the flu vaccine is being rolled out in late fall.
CDC guidance now says you can get both shots at once. However, UVA Health infectious disease expert Dr. Bill Petri says spacing them out is not a bad idea either.
It probably is going to coincide for a lot of people that youll be due for your COVID booster at the same time that the flu vaccine is happening, he said.
Dr. Petri suggests scheduling your shots for different dates in case you have an adverse reaction to one of the shots.
Part of the reason not to get both at the same time is if you got an allergic reaction, like hives for example, we would not know is it from the COVID vaccine or is it from the flu vaccine? So thats part of the reason not to do both at the same time, Dr. Petri said.
Dr. Petri says, contrary to popular belief, neither the COVID-19 shot nor the flu shot are live virus vaccines, so there should be no concern. This year, the flu shot is quadrivalent, protecting against four strains of flu.
Theres a little bit confusing last year because some were for three, some were for four strains, so theres a nice uniformity there now, Dr. Petri said.
He says it is best to get your flu shot sometime from September to November.
Copyright 2021 WVIR. All rights reserved.
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Flu And Pneumonia Shots
Having the flu can be dangerous for anyone. But it is extra risky for people with diabetes or other chronic health problems. Having diabetes means having more instances of high blood glucose than a person without diabetes. High blood glucose hinders your white blood cells ability to fight infections.
Beyond people living with diabetes, flu is also extra risky for people with heart disease, smokers and those with chronic lung disease, people who have an impaired immune system , very young children, and people living in very close quarters, such as college dorms, military barracks, or nursing homes.
Guidance On The Use Of Influenza Vaccine In The Presence Of Covid
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Public Health Agency of Canada , in consultation with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and the Canadian Immunization Committee , has developed additional guidance on influenza vaccination. Every year, individuals with influenza and influenza-related complications increase the demand on the healthcare system in the fall and winter months. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be important to minimize the morbidity and mortality related to potential influenza and COVID-19 co-circulation and to reduce the burden on the Canadian health care system to enhance the capacity to respond to ongoing COVID-19 activity.
This webpage is designed to support provincial and territorial vaccine programs and primary care providers in offering influenza vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance on this page is based on currently available scientific evidence and expert opinion and will be updated and added to as necessary throughout the influenza season as new evidence emerges. This webpage should be considered in concert with influenza vaccine recommendations provided in the NACI Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2022-2023.
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Safety Measures For Getting The Flu Jab And/or Pneumococcal Vaccination
Your GP and doctors assistants will ensure that everyone can maintain physical distance during the flu vaccination clinic. They will also ask whether people have symptoms that could indicate COVID-19. If someone has possible COVID-19 symptoms, they can get the flu jab and/or pneumococcal vaccination at a later time. It is possible that you will have to get the flu jab and/or pneumococcal vaccination at a different location, for example in a sports hall. Only the care provider who gives you the injection will approach within 1.5 metres. For that reason, the person vaccinating you will wear a surgical mask that covers the mouth and nose.
You can get the flu jab safely by following the coronavirus measures.
If you had the flu jab and/or pneumococcal vaccination first, then you should wait at least 1 week before getting the COVID-19 vaccination. If you got the COVID-19 vaccination first, then you should wait at least 2 weeks before getting the flu jab and/or pneumococcal vaccination. This waiting period is in case you experience any side-effects.
Should I Repeat A Dose Of Injectable Influenza Vaccine Administered By An Incorrect Route
Yes if a formulation labeled for intramuscular injection is given by the subcutaneous or intradermal route, it should be repeated. The dose may be administered as soon as possible. There is no minimum interval required between the invalid dose and the repeat dose.
Administering vaccine by the wrong route is considered a vaccine administration error. Healthcare personnel should take steps to determine how the error occurred and put strategies in place to prevent it from happening in the future.
In addition, we encourage providers to report all vaccine administration errorseven those not associated with an adverse eventto the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System external icon. A discussion of strategies to prevent errors can be found in the Vaccine Administration chapter of Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases . Additional resources can be found on CDCs vaccine administration web page.
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Pneumonia Vaccine And Flu Vaccine
You can administer either pneumonia vaccine and the flu shot during the same visit, Dr. Horovitz says.
In general, the CDC recommends pneumonia vaccines for young kids, older adults, and certain at-risk people. Pneumovax protects against 23 common types of pneumococcus, and Prevnar protects against 13 types.
Combination Vaccines And Fda Licensure
Only combination vaccines licensed by FDA should be used . Vaccination providers should not combine separate vaccines into the same syringe to administer together unless mixing is indicated for the patients age and is explicitly specified on the FDA-approved product label inserts. Only 2 combination vaccines, contain separate antigen components for which FDA approves mixing by the user. The safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness of unlicensed combinations are unknown.
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Bracing For Possible Covid
Last week, the Biden administration announced its plan to manage Covid-19 this fall as there is the potential for an increase in infections, in part due to waning immunity from vaccines and infection.
Additionally, as the weather gets colder and people spend more time indoors, contagious viruses like COVID-19 can spread more easily, the announcement says. And, as we saw last fall with the emergence of Omicron, we must continue to stay prepared for the possibility of a potential new variant of concern.
The White House continues to call on Congress to pass additional funding for Covid-19 response, having asked for an updated $22.4 billion last week. GOP Sen. Mitt Romney said that passing that funding would be a very hard lift.
The administrations plan to manage Covid-19 this fall includes focusing on encouraging updated booster vaccinations and making them easy to access, as well as ensuring that people have easy access to at-home rapid tests and treatments. That includes the purchase of 100 million additional at-home rapid tests from domestic manufacturers, the White House said.
Influenza Vaccination For Pregnant Women
- Women who are or will be pregnant during influenza season should receive inactivated influenza vaccine . Live attenuated influenza vaccine is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
- Postpartum women can receive either LAIV or IIV.
- Pregnant and postpartum women do not need to avoid contact with persons recently vaccinated with LAIV.
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Can Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine Be Given At The Same Time As Other Vaccines
Live, attenuated influenza vaccine may be administered simultaneously with other live or inactivated vaccines. However, if two live, attenuated vaccines are not given during the same clinical visit, they should be separated by at least 4 weeks to minimize the potential risk for interference. For example, if live, attenuated influenza vaccine was given, at least 4 weeks should pass before MMR is administered.
New Suggestions Will Start Conversations About Safety Insurance Coverage
While the broadened recommendation for an adjuvanted influenza vaccination is a departure from previous guidance, Bass notes that there havent been safety issues in those who have been taking the high-dose flu shot, and while insurance coverage outside of the typical age range remains to be seen, the guidelines itself will be a useful resource when discussing reimbursement with insurance companies.
Other viruses covered in the new vax guidelines include shingles and human papillomavirus. The full guidelines will be submitted for publication in forthcoming issues of Arthritis and Rheumatology and Arthritis Care and Research, according to the ACR.
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Will Vaccination Against Flu Pneumonia And Shingles Help Prevent Covid
The short answer is no. But lowering your risk of vaccine-preventable diseases will help you avoid doctors offices and hospitals, which will reduce any potential exposure to the coronavirus, Privor-Dumm says.
Plus, Privor-Dumm adds, Preventing serious disease can help keep you out of the hospital at a time when health resources may be needed to treat COVID-19 patients.
Conjugate Vaccine Carrier Proteins
Protein conjugates used in Hib conjugate vaccines produced in the United States include tetanus toxoid which is also used as a component of DTaP and Tdap vaccines . Simultaneous or sequential vaccination with Hib and these tetanus-toxoid containing vaccines is recommended when both are indicated . MCV4 and PCV13 both contain diphtheria-toxoid conjugates. There has been concern about simultaneous administration of vaccines containing like conjugates. One brand of MCV4, MenACWY-D , demonstrates reduced immunogenicity of the antibody response to Streptococcal pneumonia strains when administered simultaneously with PCV13 compared with separate administration. It is recommended to space these vaccines by 28 days in a person with anatomic asplenia . Simultaneous or sequential vaccination of MCV4-CRM , PCV13, and Tdap , all of which contain diphtheria toxoid, is not associated with reduced immunogenicity or increase in local adverse events.
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What You Need To Know About Pneumonia And Flu Shots
This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.
Recently, Oprah got pneumonia. Then she went on Ellen to recommend that everyone get their flu and pneumonia shots. Given that only 42 per cent of Canadians over the age of 65 got the pneumonia vaccine in 2016, maybe Oprah can get us over the 80 per cent target.
Sadly, Oprah has not always been a strong advocate for science. She gave a platform to Jenny McCarthy when she started claiming that vaccines caused her sons autism, and she also introduced the world to Dr. Oz.
But as Oprah explained to Ellen, pneumonia is no joke. Around 1.5 million people are hospitalized with pneumonia every year. Around 100,000 die in hospital and a third of people hospitalized with pneumonia die within the year.
Older patients are at greater risk and so are those with pre-existing lung disease. Smoking is also a risk factor for pneumonia, so if you need an extra incentive to stop smoking, this is it. But the main way to prevent pneumonia is with vaccines.
The problem with the pneumonia vaccine is not one of efficacy. A Cochrane meta-analysis of 18 randomized trials found that the pneumonia vaccine led to a substantial reduction in infections. The problem is which pneumonia vaccine to give people.
And if you wont listen to me, at least listen to Oprah.
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Should You Get A Flu Shot
In general, every person with diabetes needs a flu shot each year. Talk with your doctor about having a flu shot. Flu shots do not give 100% protection, but they do make it less likely for you to catch the flu for about six months.
For extra safety, it’s a good idea for the people you live with or spend a lot of time with to get a flu shot, too. You are less likely to get the flu if the people around you don’t have it.
The best time to get your flu shot is beginning in September. The shot takes about two weeks to take effect.
If youre sick , ask if you should wait until you are healthy again before having your flu shot. And don’t get a flu shot if you are allergic to eggs.
You are advised to continue to take the general precautions of preventing seasonal flu and other communicable illnesses and diseases:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash. If you dont have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hand.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
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What Side Effects Can You Expect After Getting Both The Flu Shot And Covid Booster Together
Nothing out of the ordinary. You can expect the typical side effects of soreness, injection site pain, muscle aches and pains, and fatigue, says Dr. Lahita. “It’s often recommended to do them in separate arms so that one arm doesn’t ache so much,” Dr. Adalja adds. If you’re concerned about how your body will react to getting both vaccines together or you’ve have had a negative reaction to either vaccine in the past, consult your doctor about the best course of action for you.
Ultimately, the timing of the shot is far less important than making sure you get vaccinated. Dr. Schaffner noted that there’s an old vaccine adage: a vaccine postponed is often a vaccine never received. Your best bet at protection is to get both whether it’s at the same time or weeks apart, it’s up to you.
Additional reporting by Alexis Jones
Who Should Get A Flu Shot
All Nova Scotians over 6 months old are encouraged to get a flu shot, but especially people at high risk of complications, including:
- Adults 65 years of age and older
- The immune system changes with age and this can make it make it harder for the body to fight off infections. People over 65 are also more likely to have health conditions that can get worse if they get the flu.
- Babies and children aged 6 months to 5 years
- Because of their age, babies’ and children’s immune systems are still building immunity to fight off serious infections.
- Pregnant people
- During pregnancy, the body goes through many changes that can make it harder for the body to fight off infections.
- People who get the flu shot during pregnancy pass on immunity to their baby. Babies younger than 6 months can’t get vaccinated against the flu. Getting your flu shot can help protect your baby from the flu after birth.
- Anyone with chronic conditions like heart disease, asthma and diabetes
- These conditions can affect a person’s immune system and make it harder to fight off infections.
- People at high risk of COVID-19 related illness
- People at high risk for COVID-19-related illness should get a flu shot this year. Getting a flu shot reduces the risk of severe illness that could happen when someone catches both COVID-19 and the flu.
People who live with or care for people in the high-risk groups are also encouraged to get a flu shot because they’re more likely to spread the flu to those in high-risk groups.
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