With each winter season comes a rise in colds, the flu, and now COVID.

So, can you get your COVID booster with a cough, or should you hold off?

Here’s the official recommendation.

person with a mask on and a band-aid on arm after vaccination, another person blowing their nose

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COVID Booster Shot 101

First off, ensure you’re eligible for a COVID vaccine booster.

Your best bet:Get testedto verify it’s not the coronavirus.

However, “if you’re feeling quite ill (i.e.

having fevers, body aches, diarrhea, etc.)

it’s best to hold off on getting a booster,” he says.

Not to mention, you could have worse side effects from the booster, says Dr. Parikh.

Translation: If you get your COVID booster while you’re already sick, you might feel doubly crappy.

And if you get jabbed, it might take you even longer to get over your cold.

With COVID and its variants still circulating, it’s important to preventanyillness.

Talk about a 2-for-1 deal.

The information in this story is accurate as of press time.