On the issue that has arisen with his post about when the vaccine against coronavirus should be made and when the flu vaccine, Professor Gikas Majorkinis clarified that the two vaccines can be given even on the same day. Doing it with a difference of days is a recommendation and not a contraindication, as he stressed.
The September circular states, in fact, clearly:
“Co-administration with the coronavirus vaccine: The influenza vaccine can be given even on the same day as the coronavirus vaccine – but at different anatomical sites – just like any other day before and after the coronavirus vaccine.”
In his last post, Mr. Majorkinis explains exactly this.
“About the time between the flu vaccine and COVID-19 because a misconception has been created. This is a simple recommendation if and when there is ease in planning and not a CONTRAINDICATION. This period is not a CONTRAINDICATION, ie there is no reason to cancel the scheduled COVID-19 vaccine due to a previous flu vaccine or vice versa or if it does not fit into your schedule to delay any dose of COVID-19. All the instructions issued by the vaccination committee are clear in this and there is no contradiction in this. The vaccines are combined with each other at any time.
The need for immediate vaccination of any dose of COVID-19 outweighs any possible small improvement in the effectiveness of an interferon profile program.
In simple words, we are in a hurry to make the COVID-19 vaccine! “
The misconception came after it was posted that the mRNA vaccine should be given 20 days after the flu vaccine, but he also explains that they can be given on the same day. In fact, this recommendation concerns the optimal performance of the coronavirus vaccine.
“On the combined administration of the influenza vaccine with the Covid-19 vaccine.
The widespread influenza vaccine consists of inactivated viruses. These vaccines can be given at any time. This is because the virus antigens are ready and can be processed by the immune system directly to produce an immune response.
However, mRNA vaccines such as COVID-19 are a step backwards (which makes them even more effective in the end) and must produce the antigens that will then be processed by the immune system. Theoretically, they can be affected by interferons secreted by an immune stimulus (such as another infection or other vaccine) as interferons can block the production of antigens by mRNAs.
We do not know how important this theoretical knowledge is, so we keep this information subject to future studies that may show that timing in practice may not play a significant role.
Based on this theoretical knowledge, the following rules can help to produce the best performance of the COVID-19 vaccine:
1) The performance of the flu vaccine will not be affected whenever possible
2) Once the flu vaccine has been given, we should wait at least 20 days for any dose of COVID-19 mRNA to be given.
3) After the completion of COVID-19 mRNA, the flu vaccine can be given at any time (but taking into account that the next dose of COVID-19 mRNA will follow according to the second rule)
4) CoVID-19 vaccine mRNA and influenza vaccine can be given on the SAME DAY
Example 1: Today I am doing the first dose of COVID-19 mRNA and after 10 days I planned to get the flu vaccine. The next dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine should be given at least 20 days after the flu shot, ie 30 days after the first dose.
Example 2: Today I did the second (or third) dose of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, but the flu vaccine is pending. “I can get the flu vaccine any day that suits me from now on, even on the same day.”
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