Four vaccines at one doctors appointment, too many or just enough?

[kdonnel]

Now that I am old and decrepit I qualified for some new vaccines.

At my physical a couple days ago I got covid and shingrix in my left arm and tetanus and pneumococcal in the right.

Despite everyone always telling me how much tetanus hurt, I can say with authority that covid and shingrix are much more painful days later than tetanus and pneumococcal. Two days later it still hurts too much to lay on my left side to sleep.

My wife thinks I am crazy that I let them give me all four at the same time but I figure why spread out and prolong the pain? I also pointed out that the kids often got multiple vaccines at the same time especially when really young.

As an adult how many vaccines have you received at the same time?

 

[Marrila]

I always do them one at a time. I get vaccines from the pharmacy so it's easier for me to plan my schedule.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Since I'm immuncompromised, I do one at a time, too.

For me, slow and steady wins the race.

 

[JaxDad]

I’ve had multiple at one go for military deployments. I’m not sure what the most was, but at least four. The worst was bicillin.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I think it depends on the patient and the doctor.


Usually if I need another vaccine, because my doctors office only offers the flu shot and not the covid booster (CVS and Costco to the rescue on that one), if I need an updated vaccine or a new one, my doctor will ask if I intend on getting the flu shot as well that day. Because she’d rather space it out or have me go get my flu shot elsewhere as well.

I do know of my friends who have had kids (or their siblings had kids), in terms of the grandparents getting updated/new vaccines, most of those grandparents doctors have spaced them out to avoid any issues.


LSS: discuss with your doctor. You never know what could be messing with something else.

 

[lanejudy]

I got 3 at one appointment a few months ago. Shingrix in 1 arm, flu and Covid booster in the other. I was of the same mind-set — might as well get it all done rather than additional appointments.

 

[barb969]

I do 1 at a time. That way if I have a reaction I know which one it is. When I was a kid I had a bad reaction to the tetanus antitoxin shot — almost died. That’s the shot for when you are hurt, not the normal tetanus shot.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Two. I got a Covid booster and flu shot yesterday. I definitely feel a little more "off" than I did with my last booster or with last year's flu shot. I think I'll plan next year to get them separately.

 

[fly girl]

I don't think I have ever received more than 1 at a time except when I was a baby.

If they have no issues giving you all of those vaccines at once and you prefer it that way, go for it.

Personally, I probably wouldn't do that many at once. But that is just me.

 

[JLTraveling]

Just two: Covid and flu most recently, tetanus and flu a couple of years ago. But I'm with you, I'd rather get it all done at once and over with. I suspect your pain is from the shingrix shot. I haven't had it, but everyone I know who has says it's incredibly painful.

 

[ronandannette]

I don't think I have ever received more than 1 at a time except when I was a baby.

If they have no issues giving you all of those vaccines at once and you prefer it that way, go for it.

Personally, I probably wouldn't do that many at once. But that is just me.

I thought it was A LOT when I had four vaccines in one year, let alone all at once! For the record, it was the Shingrex for me that was the worst (wicked side effects that lingered for days with both doses), and then the Moderna vaccine. The tetanus hurt the most going in but produced no side effects for me.

I’ve never had more than one at a time and I don’t think I would. When DS was little, we paid OOP to have each of his vaccines done separately and from individual dose vials without thimerosal. They were typically given several at a time with compound vaccines.

 

[kymom99]

I had a flu and tetanus together. That’s the most I can remember

 

[prairie_girl]

The most I’ve had at one time was two, one in each arm. They were a tetanus booster, and first ever flu shot (only did it because it was a requirement for a drug I was going to be given). I’m immunocompromised as well and I was laid out for a week from the flu shot. I don’t think I’d accept four in one day.

 

[kymom99]

I thought it was A LOT when I had four vaccines in one year, let alone all at once! For the record, it was the Shingrex for me that was the worst (wicked side effects that lingered for days with both doses), and then the Moderna vaccine. The tetanus hurt the most going in but produced no side effects for me.

I’ve never had more than one at a time and I don’t think I would. When DS was little, we paid OOP to have each of his vaccines done separately and from individual dose vials without thimerosal. They were typically given several at a time with compound vaccines.

I had the shingrex and had bad side effects. I need to get the second one but I’m a big chicken.

 

[ronandannette]

I had the shingrex and had bad side effects. I need to get the second one but I’m a big chicken.

The side effects from my first were so bad that I self-reported for Covid (this was in the early days before home tests). I dreaded the second, but alas, I dread shingles more and had eagerly awaited being old enough for the vaccine. I wish I could tell you the second round was easier, but for me it really wasn’t. I would do it all over again though. I NEVER want shingles.

 

[kymom99]

The side effects from my first were so bad that I self-reported for Covid (this was in the early days before home tests). I dreaded the second, but alas, I dread shingles more and had eagerly awaited being old enough for the vaccine. I wish I could tell you the second round was easier, but for me it really wasn’t. I would do it all over again though. I NEVER want shingles.

I agree. My husband is trying to get over shingles. He has had pain since September

 

[Silvermist999]

I would trust my doctor about doing the three vaccines (not Covid) at the same time since they have been in existence for years. As long as your arms can handle it.

I would have done the Covid one at a separate appointment a couple weeks earlier/later. It is so new, doctors would not even know whether there would be any issue combining it with other vaccines.

 

[Shadeaux]

I had the shingrex and had bad side effects. I need to get the second one but I’m a big chicken.

I was really sick after the first shingrex. I was also terrified about getting the second one but forced myself to do it. I had no reaction to the second one other than a sore arm. My brother had the opposite....he was fine after the first but sick for days after the second.

 

[fly girl]

I thought it was A LOT when I had four vaccines in one year, let alone all at once! For the record, it was the Shingrex for me that was the worst (wicked side effects that lingered for days with both doses), and then the Moderna vaccine. The tetanus hurt the most going in but produced no side effects for me.

I’ve never had more than one at a time and I don’t think I would. When DS was little, we paid OOP to have each of his vaccines done separately and from individual dose vials without thimerosal. They were typically given several at a time with compound vaccines.

I had the shingrex and had bad side effects. I need to get the second one but I’m a big chicken.

My sister had horrible side effects fro Shingrex. Said absolutely the worst vaccine side effects ever.
She was just like you @kymom99, not wanting to subject herself to that again. But she knew she had to because why go through all that for nothing. She said round 2 was no picnic either, but glad she did it.

Honestly, I am dreading that vaccine.

 

[mamamary]

I could not do all those at once. The most I did was a few months ago I had the most recent covid plus my flu shot. I felt horrible for hours. In the past the shingrex made me feel awful and my last tetanus made me feel bad. So for me I couldn’t. Dh on the other hand never had a reaction so he definitely could do it.