Key takeaways
- Both the seasonal flu vaccine and the updated COVID-19 vaccine are recommended annually for nearly everyone ages 6 months and older to prevent severe respiratory illness, hospitalizations, and death.
- You can safely receive both vaccines during the same appointment, with one injection in each arm, and research confirms this co-administration produces the same immune response as getting them separately.
- Most insurance plans cover both vaccines at no cost, and people without insurance can access free or low cost vaccinations for children through the Vaccines for Children program and at reduced prices at pharmacies and health centers.
Getting vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 is one of the most effective ways to protect your health and the health of those around you. But you may be wondering whether getting both vaccinations is really necessary or whether it’s even safe.
This article answers those questions and compares the vaccines for flu and COVID-19.
Both influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are potentially dangerous respiratory diseases that can lead to high fever, lung infections, and other severe health problems.
During a typical flu season,
COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is also very serious and highly contagious. It
Because both viruses tend to circulate at the same time, especially during autumn and winter, the risk of severe illness increases. This puts extra pressure on hospitals and healthcare workers.
Health organizations such as the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) strongly recommend that most people receive both vaccines. Both the
Getting both vaccines is especially important if you are at high risk of complications, such as being ages 65 years or older, pregnant, or having an underlying medical condition.
Because the protection from these vaccines can decrease over time and viruses themselves change, staying up to date with the latest formulations is the best way to prevent illness.
Medical PerspectiveDoes catching an infectious disease make my immune system stronger?
Catching an infectious disease can strengthen parts of your immune system by building immune memory. After exposure, your body produces specific antibodies and memory cells that help you respond faster if you get exposed to the same pathogen again. However, getting vaccinated provides an added benefit of preventing serious illness.
— Alex Nguyen, PharmD, RPh, CPh
Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Vaccinations
Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
Yes, you can get your COVID-19 and flu shots during the same visit to a doctor or pharmacy. This is called co-administration. Healthcare professionals often give one shot in each arm to make the process quick and easy.
Research has shown that getting both vaccines at once is safe and effective. A 2021 study gave different combinations of COVID-19 and flu vaccines to almost 700 volunteers. The researchers concluded that the immune system responded just as well to the vaccines when they were given together as it did when they were given alone.
Receiving both vaccines at once also saves you time and money by reducing the number of trips to the clinic. While you might have a slightly higher chance of mild side effects, such as a sore arm or feeling tired, these are temporary and do not cause lasting damage.
The table below summarizes how the current COVID-19 and flu vaccines compare.
| COVID-19 vaccine | Flu vaccine | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | prevent severe illness, doctor visits, hospitalization, and death | prevent severe illness, doctor visits, hospitalization, and death |
| Symptoms of target condition | • fever • cough • shortness of breath • fatigue • muscle aches • loss of taste and smell | • fever • cough • sore throat and runny nose • muscle aches • headache • fatigue |
| Common types and age guidelines | • Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty): • Moderna (Spikevax): 6 months and older • Moderna (mNexspike): 12 years and older • Novavax (Nuvaxovid): 12 years and older | • Standard-dose (Afluria, Fluaric, FluLaval, Fluzone): • Cell based/ egg-free (Flucelvax): 6 months and older • Recombitant/egg-free (Flublok): 18 years and older (3 times the standard antigen dose) • High dose (Fluzone High Dose): 65 years and older (4 times the standard antigen dose) • Adjuvanted (Fluad): 65 years and older • Live attenuated nasal spray (Flumist): 2 years through 49 years (not suitable during pregnancy or for people with weakened immune systems or certain health conditions) |
| Frequency | once per year ( | once per year |
| Delivery method | injection into the muscle (arm or thigh) | injection or nasal spray |
| Typical cost with insurance | $0 (usually covered as preventive care) | $0 (usually covered as preventive care) |
| Typical cost without insurance | • • low or no cost at pharmacies, HRSA-supported health centers, and doctors’ offices. Check here. | • • low or no cost at pharmacies, HRSA-supported health centers, and doctors’ offices. Check here. |
| Common side effects | • injection site reactions • fatigue • headache • muscle aches • fever | • injection site reactions • fatigue • headache • muscle aches • fever |
| Safety profile | safe with mild to moderate side effects | safe with mild to moderate side effects (proven safety record over decades) |
| Not reccommended (contraindicated) for | • people with allergies to any of the vaccine ingredients • infants under age 6 months | • people with allergies to any of the vaccine ingredients • infants under age 6 months |
A “two-in-one” shot is not currently available, but researchers are working on it. Moderna has been testing a combination MRNA vaccine that targets both COVID-19 and several strains of the flu.
In a large 2025 study with over 8,000 people, this new dual vaccine triggered strong immune responses that were sometimes even higher than those from the individual shots. This combination vaccine could potentially receive regulatory approval and be available in 2026.
If you don’t get them on the same day, there is no specific time to wait between getting a flu shot and a COVID-19 shot. You can get them at the same time or space them out by days or weeks if you prefer.
No, the flu vaccine is designed to protect you from flu viruses. It does not provide protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Similarly, the COVID shot does not protect against the flu.
COVID-19 and the flu are serious respiratory illnesses, and health experts recommend that most people receive both vaccines each year to prevent severe illness.
It is safe and effective to get both shots during the same visit. You may experience mild to moderate side effects, such as soreness at the injection site and muscle aches.
Most health insurance plans allow you to get both shots without having to pay anything out-of-pocket. People without insurance can usually get the shots at reduced prices at pharmacies, doctors’ offices, or health centers. Children can receive free vaccinations through the
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