With flu season around the corner, vaccines are recommended
By Jenna Gossett, MSN, FNP-C
Beaufort Memorial Lady’s Island Internal Medicine
With flu season on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about your annual vaccination. Cases of influenza, or the flu, are typically seen from October to March or April.
The peak of flu season can vary year to year, but the peak in our community is usually around February.
When should I get the flu vaccine?
It is usually recommended to not get the flu vaccine too early so that you are protected throughout flu season. It’s recommended that you get your flu shot in September or October, but these vaccines are provided throughout the remainder of flu season.
Who should get the flu vaccine?
In the U.S., flu shots are recommended annually for everyone ages six months and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Vaccination is especially important for people who are at high risk of developing serious complications if they get the flu, such as those with chronic lung disease, asthma or diabetes, as well as pregnant women and anyone over age 65.
How well do vaccines protect against the flu?
The CDC states that although vaccine effectiveness can vary, recent studies show the flu vaccine reduces the risk of flu illness by about 40%-60% among the overall population during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are similar to those used in the vaccines.
Similar to what we’ve seen with the COVID-19 vaccines, one of the biggest benefits to flu vaccinations is the protection from serious illness. The flu vaccine prevents thousands of people in the U.S. from being hospitalized each year.
There are many other respiratory infections that cause flu-like symptoms and they typically circulate during the same time of year. Flu vaccines do not protect against other common viruses such as rhinovirus (a cause of the common cold) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Can you get sick from the flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine won’t give you the flu. Flu shots are made with an inactivated virus or with a single protein from the virus. And although the nasal spray vaccine contains live viruses, they’ve been weakened to an extent that they won’t make you sick.
Some people may experience mild side-effects from a vaccine, including a low-grade fever, muscle aches and a headache. These side effects show that your immune system has been activated to develop the antibodies that can fight off the real virus when you’re exposed.
Why do I need to get vaccinated every year?
Influenza viruses undergo frequent genetic changes. Each year, scientists monitor global infection trends and select the H1N1, H3N2 and Type-B strains that are most likely to become widespread and cause severe sickness. Vaccine developers then produce that year’s vaccines to combat those particular strains of the virus. Each year’s vaccine is formulated to protect against new variations.
In addition to needing protection against new strains, the immunity that your body builds gradually diminishes over time.
Where should I get the shot and which option should I choose?
Fortunately you don’t need to worry about all of the different flu vaccine options. Your primary care provider can guide you to the one that is most appropriate given your age and health history.
If you’ve had a flu shot before without issue and don’t have health concerns, such as severe egg allergies or Guillain-Barre syndrome, you can get your shot wherever is most convenient. What’s most important is to be sure you receive your annual vaccination.
Jenna Gossett, MSN, FNP-C is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who sees patients at Beaufort Memorial Lady’s Island Internal Medicine, offering a wide range of primary, urgent and intensive care.
