Janice R. Andrews
The flu season may seem far away now that summer is ending, but it’s really coming up soon. A lot of drugstore stores are already telling people to make appointments for flu shots. But doctors say that for most people, early September might not be the best time to get a flu shot. To get long-lasting protection, it’s important to get vaccinated at the right time.
When is the best time to get a flu shot?
If you want to get a flu shot, the best time is before the fever starts to spread in your area. Unfortunately, it’s hard to say for sure when that will happen because flu season is different in different parts of the U.S. It’s also harder to tell when the COVID-19 virus will spread because it messed up the normal flu season trends.
Deepta Bhattacharya, an immunobiology professor at the University of Arizona, says that last year was the start of a normal flu season. For this year, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has set October 5 as the official start date for flu monitoring.
Most people should get vaccinations between the middle of September and the end of October, according to doctors. The CDC says that you should get your shot by the end of October to be safe as flu cases start to rise. After getting a flu shot, your immunity is at its strongest one to two weeks later and lasts for about five to six months. This is usually enough time to get through flu season, which lasts from October to March or April.
When the Timing Recommendations Don’t Apply
Some groups might want to get immunised sooner. For example, women who are in their third stage of pregnancy should get vaccinations now so that they can protect their babies. In the same way, kids between the ages of 6 months and 8 years old who need two shots should start getting them early. For kids who have never had a flu shot or whose experience with shots is unknown, they will need two shots, four weeks apart, to build up the best immune system.
Experts say that getting a flu shot later in the season is still a good idea, even if you miss the best time to do so in the fall. When it comes to flu cases that last into spring, late defence is better than none at all.
What does this year’s flu shot protect against?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) keeps an eye on how the flu virus is spreading in places like Australia and South America every year so that they can help make flu medicines for people in the United States. The 2024 flu shots are made to protect against one influenza B virus and two influenza A viruses. This is a little different from past years because one type of the flu virus was taken out because it was mostly gone during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Flu shots are the most common way to get a vaccine, but there is also a nasal spray choice for people who need it, like those who are afraid of needles. People aged 65 and up can choose to get a high-dose flu vaccine because they are more likely to have serious flu symptoms.
Who Should Get a Flu Shot?
Getting a flu shot is suggested for almost everyone. Children are especially likely to get sick and can easily spread the virus to others. People under 5 years old and people who already have health problems are more likely to get really sick. Despite this, only 57% of kids and teens got a flu shot last season.
Paediatric infectious disease expert Dr. Kristina Bryant stresses how important it is to get vaccinated: “Year after year, we see that many of the kids who die from the flu wasn’t vaccinated or wasn’t vaccinated fully.” People may forget that this is more than just a cold.
It’s important to get your flu shot at the right time as flu season comes to get the most protection. The best time for most people to get vaccinated is between mid-September and late October. However, some groups may need to get immunised earlier. Make sure you and your family are protected this flu season by getting a shot. Even getting a shot late in the season can make a difference.
