A flu shot with the most updated flu strain formula is recommended every year during flu season for protection for constantly changing flu viruses. But is there a perfect time to get the flu shot?
When is too early to get vaccinated?
Experts at the CDC advise that flu vaccine be administered as soon as it becomes available for the flu season. This can vary but typically, vaccine providers receive their supply in August or early September. The important thing is to maximize protection during the peak of the flu season, typically January or February in the US, although no one can predict exactly when the flu will peak during the season.
Does the flu shot wear off over time?
The flu shot may offer protection for up to a year but its potency may wear off towards the end of the flu season, especially in older adults over age 65. A person who decides to wait until late in the season or until after a flu outbreak occurs risks forgetting to get vaccinated or running into issues such as vaccine shortages.
When is it too late to get my flu shot?
You can get your flu shot all season long, as soon as it is available through the fall, winter, and even spring months as long as flu is present in the community. In seasons with high flu activity, such as last year’s flu season, anytime is a good time to get a flu shot. People who have not already received their flu shots and are traveling may get immunized through the month of June (or until vaccine is available) as flu occurs April through September in many area of the world.
Can I get more than one flu shot in a season?
Only one flu shot per flu season is recommended regardless of when it was received. Remember, a typical flu season in the U.S. is from late summer/early fall until late spring. A dose of the most recent formulation of flu vaccine should be received each flu season. If a person gets their flu shot in the late spring for this season, they can get next season’s flu shot when it’s available a few months later (ie September) of the same calendar year. Don’t skip a year-even if there is no change in the virus strains for this year’s shot compared to last year, in order to maximize your fight against the flu.
Remember, every flu season is different and the flu virus can affect each person in a different way. An annual flu shot is the best way to reduce the risk of getting sick or spreading it to others. It’s important to get the shot anytime when it becomes available and all throughout the flu season, ideally in early fall before the flu is widespread. While anytime is better than none at all, the timing of when a person gets the flu shot can help protect you when you need it the most.
By Sonali G. Kshatriya, Walgreens Clinical Programs & Quality
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm, accessed 7/6/18
http://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_inf.asp, accessed 7/6/18
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6430a3.htm#Groups_Recommended_Vaccination_Timing_Vaccination, accessed 7/6/18
