Epoch HealthCOVID-19, Flu Vaccines Taken Together Linked to Stroke Risk

Concurrent Vaccination: A Potential Stroke Risk Factor in Seniors

Recent studies have indicated a potential increase in stroke risk among seniors, particularly those aged 85 and older, who receive both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines simultaneously. This finding has sparked a renewed focus on the safety of administering multiple vaccines at the same time.

Key Points

• Vaccines for COVID-19 and influenza may slightly increase the risk of strokes caused by blood clots in the brains of seniors.
• The risk appears to be higher when the two vaccines are administered at the same time.
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified an increased risk of stroke for some elderly people who received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines concomitantly with a high-dose/adjuvanted influenza vaccine.
• Researchers from Kaiser Permanente found a heightened risk of stroke for individuals under the age of 65 who receive a flu shot and the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on the same day.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 800,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year. That’s about one every 40 seconds.

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