Mandatory co-administration even moving forward in Portugal. WHO experts consider it “acceptable” to administer flu and Covid vaccines at the same time – Observer
Co-administration of the flu vaccine and Covid-19 should even move forward in Portugal. The only obstacle pointed out by Graça Freitas at the press conference of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) was the validation by the World Health Organization (WHO), which arrived this Monday: the WHO expert group considers it “acceptable” to administer both influenza and Covid-19 vaccines at the same time.
“Data reported on the co-administration of inactivated vaccines (produced from inactivated virus) against seasonal flu with that of Covid-19 not hampered an increase in adverse events ”, listed as recommendations from the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) on immunization released today, but not yet WHO guidance on co-administration of vaccines.
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According to the advisory group’s opinion, taking into account that a priority age group to receive the seasonal flu vaccine is also considered at risk for the more severe Covid-19 situation, the co-administration of the two vaccines “is acceptable” and will allow immunize a greater number of people against the two diseases.,
On Friday, the Director-General of Health announced that she plans to combine vaccination against a flu and the administration of the third dose against Covid-19, to simplify the two processes, a possibility that was awaiting WHO guidance.
“It would be great for people because it’s so much more comfortable go get vaccinated once with two inoculations and it is also much easier for our nurses, for our logistics and for our services”, explained Graça Freitas, at a press conference.
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The goal is that people who are called for booster vaccination against Covid-19, and who are also eligible to receive the flu vaccine, can be inoculated with both at the same time.
Elderly people over 80 and users of homes and continuing care units who took the vaccine vaccine for more than 14 days are called to receive this Monday the third dose of vaccine against Covid-19.