Getting multiple vaccines at once led to a bad experience

Next time, I'll make sure to space them apart

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with getting three vaccines at once. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. 

I consider myself quite adept at managing my bleeding disorders, von Willebrand disease and hemophilia B. Decades of experience have taught me how to navigate medical decisions carefully. Yet every few years, I make a choice that reminds me that I still have lessons to learn.

A few weeks ago, I made one of those choices. I decided to receive three vaccines — flu, hepatitis B, and pneumonia — during a single appointment. Several friends and family members had warned me about feeling miserable after receiving the flu and COVID-19 vaccines together, so I was determined not to make that mistake. I’d checked beforehand to ensure that getting vaccinated for those three things was medically advisable, and according to the Walgreens scheduling portal, I’d be fine.

That day, I arrived for my appointment and waited. And waited. Over an hour past my scheduled time, I began to wonder if the universe were trying to warn me. Frustrated, I stood up to leave just as my name was called.

A pharmacy technician led me behind a curtain to a small cubicle. I asked again if it was safe to receive all three vaccines at once. The technician reassured me that I’d be fine.

Then, in quick succession, she injected all three vaccines into the same arm. “I like to do it this way,” she said, “so you’ll have one good arm when we’re done.” As the third injection went in, I felt a burning in my arm muscle, and a sharp, tingling sensation shot down my arm. Uh-oh. This trio was a bad idea. Had I just triggered a muscle bleed?

The aftermath

The following days were miserable. My fever spiked to 102 F for two days. I felt like I had the flu. My arm became hot, red, swollen, and unbearably itchy. A hivelike rash formed around the injection site. I was probably allergic to one of the vaccines, but I have no idea which one.

I’ve never pretreated myself with clotting factor before a vaccine, nor have I ever had problems before. But if I could turn back time, I would’ve handled this situation differently. I would’ve spaced out the vaccines, or at least given myself preventive treatment.

Curious about other people’s experiences, I took an informal poll at the the B Education HUB, an online educational and support platform for people with hemophilia B. The responses were eye-opening. Several people with severe hemophilia said they routinely take an extra dose of factor before receiving vaccinations. Even some people with mild hemophilia, like me, said they treat themselves beforehand.

Lesson learned. While I can’t undo my decision, I can use it to make better choices moving forward — and hopefully help others avoid the same mistake I made.