Mayo Clinic Health System
  • Patient Online Services
  • Pay Bill Online
  • Request an Appointment
    • Services
    • Providers
    • Locations

      Minnesota

      • Adams
      • Albert Lea
      • Austin
      • Belle Plaine
      • Blooming Prairie
      • Butterfield
      • Caledonia
      • Cannon Falls
      • Fairmont
      • Faribault
      • Janesville
      • Kenyon
      • Lake City
      • Le Sueur
      • Mankato
      • Montgomery
      • New Prague
      • New Richland
      • Northfield
      • Owatonna
      • Plainview
      • Red Wing
      • Sherburn
      • St. James
      • St. Peter
      • Waseca
      • Waterville
      • Wells
      • Zumbrota

      Wisconsin

      • Arcadia
      • Barron
      • Bloomer
      • Chetek
      • Chippewa Falls
      • Eau Claire
      • Ellsworth
      • Glenwood City
      • Holmen
      • La Crosse
      • Menomonie
      • Mondovi
      • Onalaska
      • Osseo
      • Prairie du Chien
      • Rice Lake
      • Sparta
      • Tomah

      Iowa

      • Decorah
      • Lake Mills

      View map
    • Classes/Events
    • Blog
    • Wellness
    • Referrals
    • COVID-19
    • Request an Appointment
    • Patient Online Services
    • Pay Bills Online
    • Refer a Patient

    Recent Posts

    • Person with Airpod in ear, salt and pepper hair
      Speaking of Health
      Decompress and stabilize: Understanding types of back surgery
      May 20, 2022
    • Young person on tennis court holding tennis racket
      Speaking of Health
      Is it safe for my kid to take supplements?
      May 19, 2022
    • Gas stove open flame
      Speaking of Health
      Ouch! I've burned my hand on a hot pan — now what?
      May 18, 2022
    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Neurosurgery
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Join our email newsletter
    Speaking of Health
    Monday, October 18, 2021

    Get your flu shot, COVID-19 vaccine at the same time

    Sitting up in bed blowing nose

    Updated Dec. 3, 2021

    Have you had your flu shot yet? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone over 6 months get a flu shot every season with rare exceptions.

    Now amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it's important to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu. And you can get both shots at the same time.

    "In most places, flu starts circulating by November, December. So it's recommended that everyone complete their flu vaccine by October," says Priya Sampathkumar, M.D., a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases specialist.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, communities are on the verge of another flu season. This year, it's more important than ever to be vaccinated for influenza as soon as possible.

    "It's possible that the viruses that cause COVID-19 and the flu may spread in your community at the same time during flu season," says Emily Majerus, a physician assistant in Family Medicine in Austin, Minnesota, and the mobile health clinic. "If this happens, people could become ill with COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. Getting vaccinated for both COVID-19 and the flu can reduce their spread."

    Flu cases were low in 2020. And health experts attribute that to the COVID-19 pandemic and the preventive measures put in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

    "We're afraid that with in a lot of places masking recommendations being relaxed that flu will spread more easily. And the fact that no one had flu last year means there's a lot more people who are vulnerable this year," says Dr. Sampathkumar.

    Flu and COVID-19 are caused by respiratory viruses and have similar symptoms.

    "It's very, very hard — almost impossible — to distinguish the two just based on symptoms, says Dr. Sampathkumar. “Some cases of COVID can be very mild and present exactly like the flu. Some cases of flu can be very severe and present like COVID. So really, the only way to know for sure when you have a respiratory illness is to get tested."

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices approved Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccinations for all adults. Mayo Clinic strongly recommends that all adults receive a COVID-19 booster vaccination as soon as possible if they are at least six months past their initial Moderna or Pfizer vaccination series, or at least two months past their initial Johnson & Johnson vaccination.

    And if you haven't been vaccinated for COVID-19 yet, or need a third or booster vaccination, you can get vaccinated for flu and COVID-19 at the same time.

    "The Food and Drug Administration has issued an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccine six months after your completion of the initial vaccination series," says Emily. "And if you haven't been vaccinated for COVID-19 yet or need a third dose or a booster, you can get your flu shot and COVID-19 vaccination at the same time."

    Learn more about COVID-19 booster vaccinations.

    Watch this video with a COVID-19 update for long-term care facilities, including the delta variant, benefits of COVID-19 vaccines, concerns people may have about vaccine and preventive measures that can be taken to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities:

    By Mayo Clinic Health System staff


    For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
    Topics in this Post
    • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Influenza
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Family Medicine

    Related Posts

    Sitting on floor working on laptop and using corded earbuds Facts about flu
    Susan Fox Caring COVID-19 nurse changed everything
    Parent hugging child from behind Flu shots and COVID-19

    Stay Connected

    • Contact Us
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • For Patients & Visitors
    • Financial Assistance
    • Community Resources
    • CaringBridge
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Press Room
    • Mayo Clinic
    • Home
    © 2018 - 2022 Mayo Clinic Health System