When should you get a flu shot? What to know for the 2023-2024 flu season

Flu photographs for america’ 2023-2024 influenza season are actually accessible. However when’s the most effective time to get the vaccine, and who ought to get one?

Here is a rundown of what you might want to learn about this season’s flu vaccines.

Associated: May we ever eradicate the flu?

Who ought to get a flu shot?

Everybody ages 6 months and older ought to get a flu shot each season, with uncommon exceptions, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) recommends.

These exceptions apply to individuals with extreme, life-threatening allergic reactions to particular vaccine substances. These probably allergy-triggering substances embody gelatin, which is used as a stabilizer in some vaccines, and sure antibiotics, which forestall bacterial contamination throughout vaccine manufacturing however can linger in very small portions in some photographs post-production, based on the Youngsters’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Individuals who have had a extreme allergic response to a flu vaccine shouldn’t get the identical kind of vaccine once more and will seek the advice of a physician about whether or not to get a distinct shot, the CDC says. Individuals with a historical past of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a uncommon paralyzing situation through which the immune system assaults the nerves, also needs to seek the advice of a physician earlier than getting a flu shot.

However everybody else can assume they need to get a shot. Flu photographs are particularly essential for people who find themselves older than 65, youthful than 2, pregnant, or have very not too long ago given beginning, the CDC states. Be aware that some kids ages 6 months to eight years are beneficial to get two doses of vaccine.

When do you get a flu shot?

Most individuals ought to get a flu shot in September or October, earlier than the flu begins circulating broadly, the CDC advises. In a typical season, flu circumstances begin to ramp up in late October and peak between December and February. Though it is best to get your flu shot early within the season, it is higher to get one late than by no means.

Associated: The flu shot is not that efficient. Here is why it is best to nonetheless get it.

Sealed nasal influenza vaccine laying on a silver medical tray

The nasal spray is one in all 9 completely different flu vaccines accessible. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)

What forms of flu photographs can be found?

There are 9 completely different flu vaccines accessible this season, together with eight which might be injected and one which’s sprayed up the nostril. All of the vaccines guard in opposition to 4 influenza virus subtypes: A(H1N1), A(H3N2), a Yamagata lineage influenza B virus and a Victoria lineage influenza B virus.

Communicate to a physician, pharmacist or different well being care skilled when you have questions on which flu shot is greatest for you.

Commonplace-dose, inactivated flu photographs: Inactivated flu photographs comprise influenza viruses which have been “killed” to allow them to not infect cells. They’re accredited to be used in individuals ages 6 months and older.

Recombinant flu photographs: Recombinant flu photographs are made utilizing “recombinant know-how,” which entails utilizing flu virus genetic materials to make a protein discovered on the virus’ floor — hemagglutinin (HA). There’s one recombinant vaccine accessible referred to as Flublok Quadrivalent, and it is accredited to be used in individuals ages 18 and older. It is one in all three vaccine choices particularly beneficial to individuals 65 years and older.

Nasal spray: The one vaccine that is accessible as a nasal spray is known as FluMist Quadrivalent. It is a dwell attenuated vaccine, which means it accommodates weakened flu viruses that may’t trigger illness however haven’t been “killed,” just like the viruses in inactivated photographs. This vaccine is accredited for most individuals ages 2 to 49, however it’s not accredited for individuals who’re pregnant, have weakened immune techniques or have sure different circumstances.

Excessive-dose and adjuvanted flu photographs: One high-dose flu vaccine and one adjuvanted vaccine, which accommodates an added ingredient to rev up the immune system, are accredited to be used in individuals 65 and older. Together with the recombinant shot, these vaccines are particularly beneficial for older individuals as a result of they’re extra protecting on this age group than the standard-dose vaccines. The high-dose shot is known as Fluzone Excessive-Dose Quadrivalent and the adjuvanted vaccine is known as Fluad Quadrivalent.

Which flu shot ought to individuals with egg allergic reactions get?

Individuals with egg allergic reactions can obtain any flu shot, egg-based or in any other case, they usually do not want a particular physician’s appointment to take action, the CDC says. This recommendation is predicated on new steerage from a CDC vaccine advisory committee that not too long ago reviewed the accessible security knowledge.

Flu vaccination.

Use the CDC’s VaccineFinder to seek for flu shot administration websites in your space. (Picture credit score: Peter Dazeley/Getty Pictures)

“Egg allergy alone necessitates no extra security measures for influenza vaccination past these beneficial for any recipient of any vaccine, no matter severity of earlier response to egg,” the committee suggested. All vaccines needs to be given in settings the place allergic reactions will be acknowledged and handled rapidly, based on the brand new steerage.

When will we all know if the flu photographs are a “good match”?

We usually do not know if the flu photographs are a “good match” to circulating strains till later within the season. In 2022, for instance, officers introduced in December that the flu photographs had been seemingly a “excellent match.” A superb match would imply that the flu strains included within the vaccines, that are chosen forward of time, will find yourself being genetically much like the strains that really make individuals sick in the course of the 2023-2024 season.

Vaccine makers determine which flu strains to incorporate in photographs for the upcoming season by checking which strains are circulating elsewhere on the planet. The Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere flu seasons occur at completely different occasions, so flu virus samples collected in a single hemisphere can present the opposite clues as to what’s to return.

The place are you able to get a flu vaccine?

Use the CDC’s VaccineFinder to seek for flu shot administration websites in your space.

This text is for informational functions solely and isn’t meant to supply medical recommendation.

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.