Health Ministry explains if it's safe to get multiple vaccines in one day
Combining vaccines is safe (collage: RBC-Ukraine)
Not everyone knows whether it is possible to get several vaccinations in one day. However, vaccination is an important component of the health of both children and adults, as it helps prevent diseases that can be dangerous or even fatal.
Sources used: The Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health.
Can we get several vaccinations in one day?
According to experts from the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health, it is safe to combine vaccines.
This is confirmed by numerous studies, as well as the world practice of receiving protection against several diseases in one visit.
It is important to remember that the combination of vaccines is selected individually by a pediatrician (for children) or a family doctor. In doing so, doctors focus on:
- types of vaccines (live and inactivated)
- patient's age
- general health of the child or adult
National preventive vaccination schedule
According to the National Immunization Schedule, some diseases are prevented simultaneously.
For example, at the age of two months, a child should receive vaccines against diphtheria and tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B, and Hib infection.
Studies show that the simultaneous administration of different combinations of vaccines is effective and does not carry an increased risk of adverse reactions.
Flu vaccination
The Ministry of Health also claims that combining different vaccinations on the same day is not only safe but also convenient - especially for children.
It is clarified that the vaccines used to vaccinate against influenza in Ukraine are inactivated (non-living), so they can be combined with all other vaccines.
The only exception is the BCG vaccine, which is used to vaccinate children in the hospital - it cannot be combined with other vaccinations.
It is also noted that since influenza vaccination is recommended for children from 6 months of age, it does not overlap with BCG.
"All other vaccinations - against measles, polio, chickenpox, pneumococci, covid, etc. - can be combined and done on the same day as the flu vaccination, or with any intervals between them," the doctors emphasize.
Vaccination in pharmacies
Recently, the government adopted a resolution that gives Ukrainians access to vaccination in pharmacies. This is a well-established practice in the EU and the US, which makes vaccination more convenient and therefore even closer and more accessible.
Before the service can be launched in Ukraine, pharmacies need to obtain a license for medical practice. To do this, the pharmacy must ensure:
- availability of a special first aid kit and other equipment
- pharmacists are trained on vaccine safety, rules of organization and techniques of vaccination, and first aid in case of emergencies
It should be noted that the government's decision comes into force three months after its publication.
During this time, the regulatory framework must be changed to ensure that it does:
- project implementation
- holding consultations
- verification of the list of business entities that will be willing to obtain a license and provide vaccination by pharmaceutical workers
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
