Dear Dr. Dave and Dr. Dee, I'm a healthy 46 year old female who has never gotten a flu shot before. My 77 year old mother plans to get a flu shot and suggested that I get one, too. If I get a flu shot will I not get the flu? Signed, Thinking About It Dear Thinking About It, At age 46 and healthy, you are not considered to be in one of the high risk groups to receive a flu shot (vaccine). However, you can still get a flu shot if desired. Because flu season begins in the Fall, the best time to get vaccinated is October or November. There are many strains of influenza viruses and the vaccine will provide protection against only three types. The Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov provides the following information about the influenza (flu) vaccine: Each vaccine contains three influenza viruses: one A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus, and one B virus. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientist's estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year. About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body. When to Get Vaccinated October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but you can still get vaccinated in December and later. Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May. Who Should Get Vaccinated In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are either people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications. People who should get vaccinated each year are: 1.) People at high risk for complications from the flu: People 65 years and older; People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that house those with long-term illnesses; Adults and children 6 months and older with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma; Adults and children 6 months and older who needed regular medical care or were in a hospital during the previous year because of a metabolic disease (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease, or weakened immune system (including immune system problems caused by medicines or by infection with human immunodeficiency virus [HIV/AIDS]); Children 6 months to 18 years of age who are on long-term aspirin therapy. (Children given aspirin while they have influenza are at risk of Reye syndrome.); Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season; All children 6 to 23 months of age; People with any condition that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions (that is, a condition that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, such as brain injury or disease, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other nerve or muscle disorders.) 2.) People 50 to 64 years of age. Because nearly one-third of people 50 to 64 years of age in the United States have one or more medical conditions that place them at increased risk for serious flu complications, vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 50 to 64 years. 3.) People who can transmit flu to others at high risk for complications. Any person in close contact with someone in a high-risk group (see above) should get vaccinated. This includes all health-care workers, household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children 0 to 23 months of age, and close contacts of people 65 years and older. Who Should Not Be Vaccinated There are some people who should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. These include: People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs. People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past. People who developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously. Influenza vaccine is not approved for use in children less than 6 months of age. People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen. For more information about influenza vaccines, see www.cdc.gov |
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