'1 appointment, 2 jabs': Islanders urged to get flu, COVID shots at the same time

As the weather in P.E.I. starts to chill off, it's a signrespiratory virus and flu season is right around the corner.

The province's Chief Public Health Office and local pharmacistsare encouraging Islanders to get their flu and COVID vaccines during the same appointment.

If you're brave, health providers say, you can even get several jabs at once if you need them.

"We've had patients that have taken flu and COVID and shingles shot all at the same time. I think the next day might be a write-off for them, but at least it gets it done," said Michael Weale, a community pharmacist on P.E.I. and the regional co-ordinator for Dalhousie University's College of Pharmacy.

Pharmacists started administering flu shots about a week ago, said Weale. People aged 65 and older can get a high-dose flu vaccine for free; regular flu shots are available at no cost to younger people.

Island Morning8:56How to protect yourself during flu season

With the weather turning cooler, it's a sign that flu season is coming. We'll talk with pharmacist Michael Weale for advice on when and how to get your vaccines.

Meanwhile, Moderna's mRNA COVID vaccines have just arrived on the Island, while Pfizer mRNAshots are expected to land sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Weale said pharmacies have already been busy with flu shots, with people startingto askabout bookings in late August.Public Health is also gearing up to open vaccine clinics soon, he said.

COVID and flu vaccines can be administered together, something health-care providers recommend because it's more efficient to do two shots at once.

"Certainly, most of the messaging has been 'one appointment, two jabs,'" Weale said."The fear is that if you get one, you may not come back and get the other, and we want you fully protected this year."

Pharmacists are now able to administer COVID boosters to anyone aged five and up because it's the same vaccine, just different doses for kids and adults.

'Get it done now'

Weale said demand for the shingles vaccine has also increased since the province lowered the age for free doses to 50 from 60 in September. Without that coverage, the set of two shots required for maximum protection costs over $300.

If people can handle getting the shingles shot at the same time as the flu and COVID jabs, they should consider it, he said.

"Shingles is an opportunistic virus;it kind of wakes back up when your immune system takes a hit," Weale said.

"They're worried that if you're busy fighting off respiratory viruses,you may be more prone to a shingles outbreak, so get it done now."