“We don’t know how well the flu vaccine is going to work this year.”. “It lasts about six months,” said Richardson, which is why it’s important to get vaccinated now so you’re covered during the peak months. In short: It reduces your chances of getting sick. Getting vaccinated can lower your chances of getting the flu. 161,832, This story has been shared 53,546 times. Each year’s vaccine is based on which strains are most likely to spread during that flu season. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Your California Privacy Rights If you’ve had Guillain-Barré syndrome, talk to your doctor before getting the flu vaccine. My Best Friend Has Turned Into A Conspiracy Theorist, When To Get Your Flu Shot In 2020 — Timing Matters, you cannot get an influenza infection from the flu shot. You may need an appointment, so it’s best to call in advance to find out what you need to do. “The reason for that is the flu shot seems to only work for about six months and we always have quite a lot of flu in our communities in March. If you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately. If you have an egg allergy or are allergic to substances that may be used in a vaccine, be sure to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your concerns. “The flu vaccine is what health care professionals think will be the top three or four strains, that’s why some years it works well or not so well,” said Richardson. Children aged 6 months to 8 years need two doses 4 weeks apart, so it’s best to get them started in early September. The vaccine won’t protect you from every strain. There’s no exact date, just when it gets cold,” One Medical provider Dr. Michael Richardson told The Post. At major pharmacies like CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens, you can usually get vaccinated without an appointment. Shots made with adjuvant for people 65 years and older. “It’s still important to get yourself protected as much as you can. If you’re able to social distance, wash hands, cover your mouth when you sneeze and cough, those are the preventions from influenza,” said Wong. Flu shot availability began popping up at pharmacy chains and doctors’ offices this summer, but when it comes to getting the shot, earlier isn't better. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Both are respiratory viruses that spread through droplets. All rights reserved. 51,250, © 2020 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved Get the flu shot to protect yourself even further.”, Urine luck? “The more people that get vaccinated, the more we help protect more vulnerable people like babies who can’t get the flu shot and seniors who are more likely to become very ill with the flu,” Dr. Favini says. The majority of people who get it are fine,” he said. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It can come from a vaccine, exposure to an infection or disease, or from another…, Previous studies have indicated that immunity to the diseases tetanus and diphtheria could be long-lived, but a new study is the first to show that…, Samy Awwad has launched an organization called IMMUNIGLOBAL in an effort to teach young people about the benefits of vaccines, and, hopefully, lower…. It’s a free preventive service under Medicare and Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant policies. Now as measles cases top 1,200 in the United States, social media platforms are attempting to combat erroneous health information being shared online. Here's why you need to get yours. Then I pop an antihistamine an, Here’s a sentence you’ll be hearing a lot over the next several months: Get your flu shot. Drinking enough water can help you burn fat and increase your energy levels. For those over 65, a higher-dose vaccination is available to bolster their weaker immune systems. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. In the northern hemisphere, the CDC recommends getting vaccinated between early September and late October. Here's why: There’s some evidence that getting a flu shot too soon in the season — such as August or September — might leave you with waning immunity by January or February, he says. “So it’s highly recommended to get the flu shot before the season starts.” Anyone over the age of 6 months should get the shot. To learn more about these options, try the following: The flu can strike anyone and can lead to serious, life threatening complications. Here’s What An Ex... Coronavirus Made Screen Time Trackers Obsolete — & That’s A... Help! High-dose shots for people 65 years and older. Normally, you can get a flu vaccine at your doctor’s office, your local pharmacy, or even at a walk-in retail clinic. © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. “It peaks between December and February and it can honestly last until May, it usually starts to beat out around March.”, “It takes about two weeks for the immunity to kick in,” advised Wong.