COVID-19 vaccines can now be given at the same time as other vaccines

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has updated its recommendation on simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccines. As a precautionary measure, NACI originally recommended that COVID-19 vaccines should not routinely be given simultaneously with other vaccines, since there were no data on the simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccines and the potential for immune interference was not known. In addition, NACI felt that administering the COVID-19 vaccine alone would assist with the assessment of any adverse event following immunization. Therefore, in the absence of evidence, NACI originally recommended that it would be best to wait for a period of at least 28 days after any dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before the administration of another non-COVID-19 vaccine, or wait for a period of at least 14 days after the administration of another vaccine before administrating a COVID-19 vaccine. Read: 'It's really scary:' Alberta physicians face more aggressive, misinformed patients After reviewing the evolving evidence on COVID-19 vaccines and considering the extensive data and experience of giving other routine vaccines at the same time or within days of each other, NACI has determined that a precautionary approach is no longer necessary. Therefore, NACI now recommends that COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time as, or any time before or after, other vaccines, including live, non-live, adjuvanted, and non-adjuvanted vaccines. NACI recommends that informed consent should include a discussion of the benefits and risks, given the limited data available on administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines. Although no specific safety concerns have been identified when routine vaccines are given at the same time or within days of each other, it is currently not known whether the reactogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines is increased with concomitant administration of other vaccines. There is a possibility of increased temporary side effects when a COVID-19 vaccine and another vaccine are administered at the same time or within days of each other. This could particularly be true when a COVID-19 vaccine is given with another vaccine known to be more reactogenic, such as one of the newer adjuvanted vaccines. NACI’s new recommendation allowing COVID-19 vaccines to be given at the same time as or within days of other routine vaccines will help facilitate the rollout of the 2021/22 influenza vaccine program. It will also make it easier for individuals to receive other routine vaccines they have missed due to the pandemic. Read: Ontario recommends people aged 18 to 24 take Pfizer BioNTech shots over Moderna NACI reminds healthcare providers that vaccines given during the same visit should be administered at different injection sites using separate injection equipment. As with other vaccines, when possible, administration on the same day is preferred to vaccines being given within a few days of each other. NACI notes that studies examining the simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines are underway and ongoing. NACI will continue to monitor the evolving evidence and will update recommendations as needed. References 1. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). Summary of National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) statement: recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines. September 30, 2021. (accessed September 29, 2021). 2. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). Advisory Committee Statement (ACS). Recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines. September 28, 2021. (accessed September 30, 2021)

COVID-19 vaccines can now be given at the same time as other vaccines

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