We have had many calls asking about the timing of vaccines this fall. As clinical pharmacists working at Charlton Health, we are happy to answer any questions regarding vaccines and the timing of medications. There is no need to separate the COVID-19 bivalent booster doses from other vaccines including the influenza vaccine. Many vaccines can be given on the same day. As the newest pneumonia vaccine, Prevnar 20 was released this summer, many people are also upgrading to this lifelong protection against 20 strains of bacterial pneumonia. It can also be given at the same time as other vaccines. Shingrix for shingles protection is offered in two doses, usually 2 months apart, and can also be given with other vaccines. So when getting vaccinated, consider other vaccines that you may require.
Kunal Bhatt, RPh, PharmD, HBSc is a staff pharmacist for Charlton Health. As a 2020 PharmD graduate from the University of Toronto, Kunal possesses a diverse range of experiences from working in hospital and community pharmacy settings. Since January 2021, Kunal was heavily invested in contributing to the efforts against COVID-19 by administering upwards of 5000 COVID-19 vaccines at William Osler Health System’s vaccination clinics.