In the U.S., flu and COVID season runs from October through March and sometimes a bit longer. Although you can catch the flu or COVID anytime of the year, you are more likely to get sick during the fall and winter months. More people meet indoors, school is back in session, and people travel for the holidays, which increases the risk that you will be exposed to viruses.
The American College of Rheumatology recommends that people with lupus who are not allergic to the vaccine get the flu and COVID shots every year—regardless of your disease activity, medications or age. For people who are on immunosuppressive medications, which includes steroids, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the timing of getting vaccinated. You may need to delay either the vaccine or your treatment in order to get the most benefit from receiving the vaccine.
The good news is that you can get the shots at the same time. Usually, the only side effects will be a sore arm and fatigue, so make sure to plan some time to rest afterward. There is a small risk of the vaccine causing a lupus flare, but the risk of the flu or COVID causing a flare is much higher.
It can be frustrating to have to get the shots every year—most of us don’t like needles! But the flu and COVID viruses change every year, so the shot that you got last year probably won’t provide much protection. And people with lupus are at higher risk than those without lupus of getting both the flu and COVID and of having serious illness.
It’s also a good idea to ask the people that you live with or are often in close contact with to get the shots as well. This provides protection for them and you.
Getting the flu and COVID shots are the most important way to protect your health from those viruses, but they aren’t perfect. People who get the shots can still get flu and COVID, but the disease will be milder in those who have been vaccinated.
This means that it’s still important to take other steps to protect yourself. Remember to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer if you have been out in public touching doorknobs, railings, handles and other hard surfaces. If you are going to be in crowded spaces, consider wearing a mask. And you should always feel free to avoid shaking hands or hugging if you don’t feel comfortable. Just let people know that you want to spread love, not germs!
The flu and COVID can be serious and even life threatening for anyone, but especially for people with lupus. There have been some changes for getting the COVID vaccine this year, but the vaccine is available and in most cases your insurance will cover it and you should be able to get it at your local pharmacy without a prescription. However, some states may have different rules so work with your health care team to make a plan to get vaccinated, and give yourself some peace of mind this winter knowing that you are protecting your health.
Authored by:
Melissa French
This blog post and the lupus resources found on the National Resource Center on Lupus are, in part, supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under Cooperative Agreement Number NU58 DP006139. The contents are solely the responsibility of the developers. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.
This blog post is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with your doctor/health care team for medical advice.
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