France administers virus and flu jabs at same time

Worried that the flu and COVID-19 could together trigger a winter-time double-whammy of new infections and deaths, France is forging ahead with a nationwide vaccination and booster-shot program against both diseases.

The annual flu vaccination campaign kicked off on Friday to coincide with France's COVID-19 vaccination program.  French health authorities urged doctors, nurses, pharmacists and midwives to promote the two vaccines to at risk-people eligible for COVID-19 booster and flu shots. 

The jabs can be given the same day, one in each arm. The onset of the winter flu season with the pandemic ongoing added to the chance of co-infection, serious cases and death.