Research has found that it is safe for people to receive a flu vaccine at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine. Reported side effects were mainly mild to moderate, and there were no negative impacts on the immune response produced by either vaccine when both were given on the same day, in opposite arms.
The study was led by researchers at the Bristol Trials Centre, University of Bristol and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) and supported by the Clinical Research Network (CRN) West of England. It is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), with the results due to be published in The Lancet.
Earlier in the pandemic, it was not known whether further booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines would be required to give continued protection, and how giving boosters may fit in with the seasonal flu vaccine programme.
The Combining Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination (ComFluCOV) study looked to establish the safety of co-administering the most widely used COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in the UK and describe the expected side effects and immune responses to the vaccines when they are given together. Two COVID-19 and three influenza vaccines were tested, meaning six combinations in all.
Participants recruited to the study were over the age of 18 and had already received one dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and were awaiting their second dose.
A total of 679 volunteers took part in the study across 12 NHS sites in England and Wales, and were randomly allocated into one of two groups.
Read the full University of Bristol press release.
Further information
Frequently asked questions about the ComFluCOV study and its results can be found on the UHBW website: https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/assets/1/comflucov_results_faqs.pdf Please note that this information is also under embargo until 10pm 30 September.
The ComFluCOV study was led by the Bristol Trials Centre (CTEU) at the University of Bristol and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, and participants were recruited across the following NHS sites:
- Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Knowle House Surgery
- Newquay Health Centre
- North Bristol NHS Trust
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
- Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
- The Alverton Practice
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trustprovides exceptional services that meet the needs of local people as well as delivering specialist services across the South West and beyond. It comprises Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, St Michael’s Hospital, Bristol Eye Hospital, Bristol Dental Hospital, Weston General Hospital, Central Health Clinic and outpatient services at South Bristol Community Hospital.
Bristol Trials Centre (BTC) based at the University of Bristol collaborates with researchers across the UK as academic partners to design and deliver clinical trials.
Formally launched in November 2019 following the merger of the Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration and the Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit, the centre has a range of expertise in trials methodology, study design, study management, statistical analyses and data management, including bespoke database design.
The centre is part-funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Visit https://bristoltrialscentre.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/ for more information.
The mission of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:
- Funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care;
- Investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services;
- Partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research;
- Attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges;
- Collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system;
- Funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries.
NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK Aid from the UK government.
