It’s interesting to hear the banter every year about flu shots. Seems like there are those who always get theirs and those who never do. So what’s the right answer?
The influenza virus is always changing and so, therefore, does the vaccine. Some years the flu season is worse than others coming sooner than later, but typically the middle of the flu season is December through February (though it can extend through March).
The flu vaccine is very safe (trivalent and quadrivalent) and can be given to anyone older than 6 months. If there was a shortage, then those who should be prioritized to receive it are children 6 months to 4 years and those older than 50, especially with chronic illness.
The quadrivalent vaccine helps produce immunity against one more strain of flu virus in case it happens to come to town, but those strains more likely to occur are covered by both. This year, so far, the flu vaccine seems to be a good match based on analysis of flu cases studied.
My recommendation? I think it’s a good idea to get the flu shot every year. It’s still not too late.
