Archived 17: Summary of National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) statement: Recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines

Publication date: September 28, 2021

On this page

• Overview
• What you need to know
• Quotes

Overview

• On September 28, 2021, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) released an updated statement from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). Significant changes include an updated recommendation on the timing of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 vaccines administration. These recommendations are based on current scientific evidence and NACI's expert opinion.
• As a precaution, NACI previously recommended that COVID-19 vaccines be given at least 28 days before and 14 days after other vaccines.
• After reviewing the evolving evidence on COVID-19 vaccines and considering the extensive data and experience of giving other routine vaccines at the same time or within days of each other, NACI has determined that a precautionary approach is no longer necessary.

NACI now recommends that:

• COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time as, or any time before or after, other vaccines, including live, non-live, adjuvanted or unadjuvanted vaccines.

To see the full update, please visit NACI’s Recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines.

What you need to know

• As a precaution, NACI previously recommended that COVID-19 vaccines be given at least 28 days before and 14 days after other vaccines.
• After reviewing the evolving evidence on COVID-19 vaccines and considering the extensive data and experience of giving other routine vaccines at the same time or within days of each other, NACI has determined that a precautionary approach is no longer necessary.

NACI now recommends that:

• COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time as, or any time before or after, other vaccines, including live, non-live, adjuvanted, and non-adjuvanted vaccines.
• Informed consent should include a discussion about the limited data available, as well as the benefits and potential risks, of administering a COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 vaccine at the same time.
• No specific safety concerns have been identified when routine vaccines are given at the same time or within days of each other; however, there is a possibility of increased temporary side effects when a COVID-19 vaccine and another vaccine are administered at the same time or within days of each other.
• Allowing COVID-19 vaccines to be given at the same time as or within days of other routine vaccines will help facilitate the rollout of the 2021 influenza vaccine program in the fall and winter and will make it easier for individuals to receive other routine vaccines they have missed due to the pandemic.
• Vaccines administered during the same visit should be administered at different injection sites. As with other vaccines, when possible, administration on the same day is preferred to vaccines being given within a few days of each other.
• Studies looking at the simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines are underway and ongoing. NACI will continue to monitor the evolving evidence and will update recommendations as needed.

To see the full update, please visit NACI’s Recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines.

Quotes

“In the early stages of the COVID-19 vaccine program, NACI recommended that COVID-19 vaccines should not be given at the same time as other vaccines as a precautionary measure. We now have much more experience with COVID-19 vaccines and, coupled with our extensive experience on the concomitant administration of non-COVID-19 vaccines for routine immunizations, NACI has determined that a precautionary approach is no longer necessary.

Concomitant administration of COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines will simplify the implementation of influenza vaccine programs this fall and catch up for routine vaccines to ensure we are able to optimize protection against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases that can cause serious illness in Canada. NACI is closely monitoring the evidence related to concomitant administration of COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines and will continue to adjust recommendations as needed.”

• Dr. Shelley Deeks, NACI Chair

“Receiving your routine vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines in a timely manner is always important. Being able to give the COVID-19 vaccines at the same time as, or within days of, other vaccines will make it easier for Canadians to get their vaccines at the right time, especially as we get closer to influenza season and the rollout of the 2021 influenza vaccine program. This will also make it easier to catch up on other routine vaccines that might have been delayed due to the pandemic.”

• Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer