Concurrent influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations have the potential to help the healthcare system and patients during a pandemic.
To monitor the safety and efficacy of co-administration of influenza vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine (ChAdOx1 or BNT162b2), a multicenter randomized study was conducted and published in The Lancet.
The publication was analyzed by Theodora Psaltopoulou, Panos Malandrakis, Yannis Danasis and Thanos Dimopoulos (EKPA Rector), doctors of the therapeutic clinic of the Medical School of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens.
The primary endpoint of the study was the systemic response of the human body within 7 days after vaccination, and the antibody count was assessed.
In total, 679 people participated in the trial, which took place in the UK, of whom 340 received two vaccines at the same time, and 339 – sequentially, with a difference of 21 days. Different subgroups who received three different influenza vaccines along with Pfizer or AstraZeneca showed good efficacy at the same time, compared with a 21-day break. In the latter case, efficacy was confirmed in 4 out of 6 patients.
Parallel administration of vaccines did not affect the immune response. Moreover, most of the responses (consequences) observed in the human body were mild to moderate. A serious side effect has been reported – hospitalization due to severe headache.
It concludes that co-administration of influenza and covid vaccines is safe and effective.
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