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Getting more than one vaccine: What you need to know
Wondering if you can get more than one vaccine at a time? Discover the evidence behind co-administration.
Dr. David Weber · August 13, 2025
5 min read
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Key takeaways
- Getting two vaccines, such as Flu and RSV, may be appropriate.
- More than one vaccine can help protect against multiple diseases and with fewer appointments.
- Your immune system can handle more than one vaccine without being overloaded.
Vaccines can help train and strengthen your immune system to recognize and fight certain harmful germs (viruses or bacteria) before they make you sick. They can help you defend against some serious illnesses including certain respiratory diseases.
Whether you're staying up to date on seasonal protection or addressing longer-term health needs, it is sometimes recommended to get more than one vaccine. This could mean getting two vaccines at the same visit or scheduling them across two appointments. Either way, staying up-to-date with vaccinations can help train and strengthen your immune system response against certain respiratory diseases.
Is it safe to get more than one respiratory vaccine in the same visit?
Correct
Yes, it’s safe and often recommended
Not quite
Correct answer: Yes, it’s safe and often recommended
Whether you get them together or separately, staying current on your vaccinations helps protect you and those around you.
Yes, you can get more than one vaccine
What’s recommended?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) have recommended people receive more than one vaccine in a single visit where clinically recommended to help stay up to date on protection without needing multiple appointments. For example, the CDC routinely recommends co-administering vaccines like the flu and COVID-19 shots at the same appointment. In most cases, multiple vaccines would be administered in different injection sites (e.g., different arms).
You can typically get one vaccine today and another tomorrow, next week, or later in the month. What matters most is completing your recommended vaccinations, especially for respiratory illnesses like flu, COVID-19, pneumococcal pneumonia, and RSV based on the recommended vaccines for your age and chronic conditions. Whether you get them together or separately, staying current on your vaccinations helps protect you and those around you.
Safety considerations
Your immune system fights off germs every day—way more than what’s in a vaccine. Vaccines only use a small part of a germ (virus or bacteria) to help your body learn how to protect itself and common side effects are usually mild and temporary. Even if you get more than one vaccine at a time, it can be handled by your immune system.
Possible side effects
Side effects from vaccines, including respiratory vaccines, are usually mild and short-lived, like pain at the injection site or fatigue.
These can be signs your immune system is responding. Serious side effects are rare. Getting more than one vaccine at the same visit may be considered appropriate. While some combinations may cause slightly more noticeable reactions, these are typically mild to moderate and short-lived, with no significant impact on how well the vaccines work. Read more information about vaccine side effects here.
You can report any unexpected side effects to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) at vaers.hhs.gov.
Questions to ask your doctor
It’s important to have an open conversation with your healthcare provider about vaccines, including respiratory vaccines. Here are examples of questions you can ask to start a conversation.
- Are there any vaccines I should get today—for example, flu, COVID-19, pneumococcal pneumonia, or RSV?
- Can I get more than 1 vaccine at the same time?
- What side effects should I expect?
- Are there any vaccines I should wait on?
Benefits of co-administration
Getting vaccinated against more than one disease in a single visit means fewer trips to your healthcare provider or pharmacy.
Protection against multiple diseases
Getting multiple vaccines means you’re helping to protect yourself against a wider range of diseases—which is especially important for both seasonal respiratory viruses like the flu and COVID-19 and longer-term health needs like pneumococcal bacteria and RSV.
More convenient
Fewer appointments means less time off work, fewer transportation hassles, and fewer missed opportunities to stay up to date with your respiratory vaccine schedule. Visit VaxAssist.com to check your eligibility, and find and schedule respiratory vaccinations.
Higher overall vaccination rates
When vaccines are offered together, people are more likely to complete their recommended schedules.
You can receive multiple vaccines at:
- Your healthcare provider’s office – Ideal for personalized care and full immunization records.
- Local pharmacies – Convenient for walk-ins and respiratory vaccines.
Go to VaxAssist.com to check your eligibility, and find and book your respiratory vaccines in advance.
Explore getting multiple vaccines at once
Getting more than one vaccine can help you stay protected and save time. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about what vaccines, including respiratory vaccines, are right for you, and what you can get during your next visit. Visit VaxAssist.com to check your eligibility, and find and schedule respiratory vaccinations.
Frequently asked questions
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. David Weber, a compensated expert engaged by Pfizer to ensure the information provided is medically accurate and current. The content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
References
Administer the Vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 8, 2021. Accessed July 7, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/administer-vaccines.html
Ginglen JG, Doyle MQ. Immunization. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2025.
Multiple Vaccines at Once. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 20, 2024. Accessed July 7, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/about/multiples.html
Tan L, Trevas D, Falsey AR. Adult Vaccine Coadministration Is Safe, Effective, and Acceptable: Results of a Survey of the Literature. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2025;19(3):e70090. doi:10.1111/irv.70090
Vaccine Side Effects. The United States Department of Health and Human Services. May 6, 2022. Accessed June 25, 2025. https://www.hhs.gov/immunization/basics/safety/side-effects/index.html