Everything You Need to Know About This Year’s Flu Shot
It’s flu season, and again, the flu vaccine is very important. As mask-wearing declines, there will likely be more of all common respiratory viruses. So you might as well protect yourself from those who have safe and effective vaccines.
In years where the flu shot matches well with the strains that eventually circulate, the vaccine is 40-60% effective in preventing influenza, according to the CDC . The vaccine also reduces your chances of getting seriously ill with the flu, even if you do get sick – just like the COVID vaccines. No vaccination provides perfect protection, but vaccination is better than no vaccination.
The CDC recommends that everyone get a flu shot every year, starting with children 6 months of age and older.
What are my options?
All flu shots this year are quadrivalent, meaning they force your immune system to recognize four different flu viruses. (Some have had three shots in the past.) Standard flu shots are usually given with a needle in the arm and are produced by a process that involves growing the virus in chicken eggs.
There are two completely egg-free vaccines: Flublok Quadrivalent and Flucelvax Quadrivalent. For people who are allergic to eggs , any vaccine will usually work , but if you want, a vaccine without eggs will work for you.
Two vaccines have been developed for people aged 65 years and older. One is high-dose (Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent) and the other is adjuvant (Fluad Quadrivalent). Both are designed to cause a stronger reaction than standard flu vaccines. We have more information about these types of shots here .
And finally, the nasal spray (FluMist Quadrivalent) is back. It is a “live attenuated” flu vaccine, which means that the viruses it contains can replicate in the nose. (They cannot reproduce at higher lung temperatures.) It is available for people aged 2 to 49 who are not pregnant or immunocompromised. There are other contraindications; see See the CDC page on live attenuated influenza vaccines for more information about who can and should not get the vaccine. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended an injectable instead of a nasal spray in the past, but this year both versions are included in their recommendations .
When should I receive it?
The start time for the flu season changes every year, but Halloween is considered the unofficial deadline for fully preparing your flu shot for the upcoming season. This means that September and October are the best times to get a flu shot.
If you were vaccinated in July or August, that’s fine, but protection tends to wear off over the course of the season. Going forward, it is recommended that you get vaccinated closer to the start of the flu season, if that is convenient for you.
Children aged 6 months to 8 years should receive two doses of influenza vaccine if they are getting the flu vaccine for the first time or if they received only one dose before July 2022. These two doses should be administered four weeks apart. For these children, you’ll want to get the first dose as soon as possible so they can get their second dose in time for the flu season. For example, if you get one dose in mid-September and a second dose in mid-October, you’re all set. For the next year, one dose will be enough.
If you don’t manage to get your flu shot by the end of October, you can still get it later. It’s never “too late” while flu season continues. The season often peaks in February , and in some years it may peak in March. A late flu shot will still protect you from viruses you have yet to encounter, although if you wait until spring, pharmacies may no longer have the shot.
Can’t the flu shot give me the flu?
no .
What if I am also receiving a COVID booster?
You can get the flu shot and the shiny new bivalent COVID vaccine at the same time . If you are getting a high-dose or adjuvanted flu shot, the CDC recommends using a different arm for each shot. (Both shots may cause soreness and redness at the vaccination site.)