Can You Get Both The Shingles And Flu Shot At The Same Time?

Hi Jen and thanks for reaching out to us!

One of the most common questions pharmacists and other healthcare professionals get about vaccines is whether or not you can receive multiple at the same time, and if you can't, how long to separate them by.

So, let's talk about both of the vaccines in question here.

Shingrix Vaccine

Shingrix is a recombinant vaccine that is used to prevent shingles. It contains both the herpes zoster antigen and an ingredient known as an adjuvant, which increases our immune response to the vaccine, making it more effective.

An important note about the Shingrix vaccine is that it is not a live vaccine. It is classified as a recombinant, adjuvanted vaccine. This is unlike the older shingles vaccine, Zostavax, which was a live vaccine (Zostavax has been discontinued as of November 2020).

Shingrix is a two-shot vaccine series, with the second dose being given 2 to 6 months after the first dose.

Flu Vaccines

There are a number of different flu vaccines on the market every year, and they all have different properties. Variations include:

• Type of vaccine (i.e. inactivated, recombinant)
• Number of flu virus strains (i.e. trivalent, quadrivalent)
• Preservatives (i.e. some are preservative-free)
• Egg-containing (i.e. some are egg-free)

A recombinant vaccine is usually made by inserting DNA onto the surface of a virus or bacterial protein structure, allowing your body to create an immune response.

Inactivated vaccines are weakened flu viruses grown in eggs, then killed and purified. Both types of vaccines produce a similar immune response, and contain only fragments of the actual influenza virus - they cannot give you the flu.

Shingrix And The Flu Shot Together?

The good news is that you don’t have to wait any period of time between your shingles vaccine and flu shot.

They are safe to be given at the same time or with any spacing in between, and you will get the same immune response. You can get your flu vaccine today if you’d like to!

CDC Recommendation

CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines state that recombinant and adjuvanted vaccines like Shingrix and the various flu shots, are safe to give together, as long as they are administered at different sites of the body. Per the CDC:

CDC’s general best practice guidelines for immunization advise that recombinant and adjuvanted vaccines, such as RZV, can be administered concomitantly, at different anatomic sites, with other adult vaccines.

Studies Show That Co-Administration Is Safe

Several studies have shown that co-administration of the Shingrix vaccine and flu shot is safe, and there is no decrease in the immune response to either vaccine.

One such study, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, concluded the following:

No interference in the immune responses to either vaccine [Shingrix & Fluarix] was observed when the vaccines were coadministered, and no safety concerns were identified.

In general, only live vaccines need to be separated apart from each other if not given at the same time, but there are exceptions, so please continue to double-check before you get any new vaccines.

Final Words

I hope this helps. Feel free to write us in the future with any additional questions!