Is it too early to get the flu shot?

As you rest in the last weeks of the summer, here's a question you're thinking about: flu shots. They are already there. Rite Aid has announced that seasonal influenza vaccines are available at 2,466 pharmacies.

All who can, should get the flu shot every year. But should you get one just this moment? The answer is a little complicated.

You want to make sure you get vaccinated in advance if the flu is present in your area. But there may be disadvantages to getting the vaccine too soon. According to CDC experts, several studies have shown that the effectiveness of influenza vaccines decreased during an influenza season. Doctors can not predict when the flu season will peak. If it occurs late, for example in early April, people who received the vaccine in August could benefit from lower levels of protection at the most dangerous time.

An analysis from the University of Pittsburgh's Faculty of Medicine has shown that in the normal and late flu seasons, waiting until October to receive the vaccine can be beneficial for the elderly and even save people. hundreds of lives. The risk being that the flu season arrives early, Dr. Kenneth J. Smith, senior author, calls this "a balancing exercise" (the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends to older people over the six months to be vaccinated against the flu at the end of October.)

In any case, an early influenza vaccine is better than no influenza vaccine. If the vaccine is available near you now and you think you will not come back later, it is best to do so. In addition, some people should definitely be vaccinated against influenza, including some children, who will need two doses of the vaccine.