Timing and Convenience: Experts Weigh in on the Best Strategies for Getting Flu and Coronavirus Shots

As the summer wave of the coronavirus recedes and flu season looms on the horizon, many are left wondering when and how to get their shots. Two infectious diseases experts, Caitlin Rivers and Andrew Pavia, share their approaches and offer valuable insights on vaccination strategy. Rivers, a 35-year-old mother of three, always gets both shots by the end of October to protect her children from missing work and school. Pavia, a 69-year-old pediatrics infectious-disease physician, gets his shots in October when it's convenient, and encourages others to do the same. Their tips include getting shots whenever possible, getting the flu and coronavirus shots together or separate, and considering the Novavax vaccine as an alternative for those who have had a strong reaction to mRNA shots.

Key Takeaways:

• Timing is not as critical as convenience when it comes to getting shots, according to Pavia, who encourages getting a shot whenever you have an easy opportunity.
• Getting the flu and coronavirus shots together is not necessary, and some people may want to get them in separate arms to minimize discomfort, as advised by both Rivers and Pavia.
• The Novavax vaccine may be a viable option for those who have had a strong reaction to mRNA shots, particularly males between 12 and 29, as it carries a lower risk of myocarditis.
• Protection from infection lasts for approximately six months in most people, but those at highest risk may need to consider two shots a year, as recommended by Pavia.
• Planning ahead is key when it comes to vaccination, as the immune response takes about two weeks to kick in and peaks at about a month.
• Considering the timing and intensity of flu season, Rivers notes that this year's season is just beginning.

Statistics:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people consult a clinician before receiving a coronavirus shot, but a brief conversation with a pharmacist can be sufficient.
• The Washington Post previously published a guide to getting covid shots under these new conditions.
• The Novavax vaccine carries a lower risk of myocarditis, a rare condition that causes inflammation of the heart muscle, particularly in males between 12 and 29.
• The immune response takes about two weeks to kick in and peaks at about a month.
• This year's flu season is just beginning, according to Rivers.

Sources:

• The Washington Post's previously published guide to getting covid shots under the new conditions.
• Caitlin Rivers, an infectious-disease epidemiologist and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, cited by Lena H. Sun, The Washington Post.
• Andrew Pavia, a 69-year-old pediatrics infectious-disease physician at the University of Utah, cited by Lena H. Sun, The Washington Post.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.