During the current vaccination campaign, many individuals are receiving both the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines in a single medical visit. According to guidelines from the Ministry of Health, the co-administration of these vaccines is considered safe and is officially recommended. This approach involves administering one injection per arm during the same appointment, a practice that has been shown not to reduce the immune response to either vaccine.
The simultaneous administration offers significant practical advantages by simplifying logistics for patients, particularly the elderly and those accompanied by caregivers, who avoid multiple trips to clinics. It also reduces the workload for healthcare operators. Furthermore, this strategy ensures higher adherence to vaccination campaigns among recommended groups, such as individuals over 70 and residents of nursing homes. Evidence indicates that mild and temporary side effects, including arm pain, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, muscle aches, and fatigue occurring within 24 to 72 hours, are not more severe when both vaccines are received together.
The primary objective of both vaccines is not necessarily to prevent infection entirely, but to mitigate the risk of severe forms requiring hospitalization or leading to serious complications and mortality. This protection is crucial for fragile individuals and those working in close contact with the public, including healthcare and essential service workers. By preventing severe cases, these vaccines also help protect the healthcare system, ensuring hospitals can function regularly during peak infection periods.
Annual booster doses against SARS-CoV-2 are recommended for people aged 60 and older, residents of long-term care facilities, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and healthcare professionals or students. The recommendation extends to individuals between six months and 59 years old with underlying conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19, such as chronic respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, endocrine, renal, hepatic, or blood diseases, tumors, chronic inflammatory diseases, intestinal malabsorption syndromes, and Down syndrome. It also covers transplant recipients, those awaiting transplants, individuals with immunodeficiencies, and family members of at-risk subjects.
Recommendations for the influenza vaccine are similar but include additional groups: healthy children aged six months to six years, personnel in public services of primary collective interest such as nursery and kindergarten staff, transport workers, postal employees, law enforcement, and civil protection agents. Additionally, the flu vaccine is advised for workers who have contact with animals in breeding or care settings.
Sources: Focus.it.