It’s that time of year again when we try to figure out just how bad this year’s flu season will be in the US.
In Australia, a country that usually heralds the flu season in the north (they experience winter first), it’s already bad.
“It’s hard to predict what trends we’ll see with each flu season, but we usually look to the Southern Hemisphere for clues,” said Dr. Brittany Mueller, an internal medicine physician at Atlantic Medical Group Primary Care. “Australia has been monitoring flu cases very closely and we know that they have had an earlier than usual flu season this year and the number of cases has been high.”
Moreover, the wearing of masks and the health precautions we take COVID-19 it has also led to historically low flu seasons starting to disappear.
“Now that people are walking around without masks, traveling a lot and resting again, going to restaurants and religious services, going back to school and the office, there are more opportunities for [flu] the virus was circulating,” Dr. William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, told AARP.
Each year, flu vaccines are adjusted to best reflect the circulating strains of the virus, including the formulas available this year. And while the main flu season in the US is likely still a couple of months away, you’re still in the “best” time to get vaccinated.
Here’s what you need to know.
Should I get a flu shot?
Yes, most people should. After the 2010-11 flu season, the CDC made a universal recommendation that everyone (with rare exceptions) get the flu vaccine. There are different flu vaccines available depending on your age and other factors.
And if there’s one thing we’ve learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that what could be a week off work for you could be a hospital stay or worse for someone else who catches the flu. Vaccination minimizes the risk of severe illness, but can also reduce the risk of spreading the flu to others.
How old do you have to be to get the flu vaccine?
Babies 6 months of age and older (and anyone older than that) can get the flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics say it’s safe to get the flu vaccine at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine, which now includes the new COVID-19 accelerator.
Note that it is safe to get both vaccines at the same time, however, one study found that you may experience mild, temporary side effects from the vaccine, such as muscle aches, if you receive the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine at the same time.
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Read it more: Flu shot side effects: What’s normal and what to worry about
Which flu vaccine should I get?
The type of flu vaccine you are likely to receive depends on your age. Special vaccines with higher doses are recommended for adults age 65 and older who may need an additional immune boost. All flu vaccines available this year are quadrivalent, meaning they are designed to protect against four different flu viruses.
There are several different types of flu vaccines, including standard doses of flu shots for adults under 65, nasal vaccines containing live but weakened versions of the flu virus for people ages 2 to 49, and stronger formulas , intended for the elderly.
The CDC does not have specific recommendations for most people under the age of 65. But there may be special considerations or recommendations for other adults, including pregnant people, those with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome and people who have had a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine in the past, according to Mueller.
If you are over 65: The CDC recommends that you get Fluzone high-dose tetravalent vaccine, Flublok recombinant flu vaccine, or Fluad quadrivalent flu vaccine whenever possible. These flu vaccines have been shown to elicit a stronger immune response in older adults.
When to get a flu shot
The CDC recommends that most people get it in September or October, but getting it after October is more likely to be effective in protecting you ahead of peak flu season, which usually starts in December and continues into March.
“It takes about two weeks to make the antibodies, which will last about six months,” Mueller said. “This will get us through most of the winter months, when flu tends to prevail in the northern hemisphere.”
Where to get a flu shot
The flu vaccine campaign is different from the free-for-all COVID-19 vaccine campaign because they have been paid for by the federal government and are strategically available through the vaccine finder website.
But you should still be able to find the flu vaccine relatively easily. If you have a primary care doctor, you can get one at their office. If you don’t have a health care provider, you can call a pharmacy or clinic near you to see if they have one. They may ask your age to see if they have the recommended vaccine in stock for you.
Note that when you see a “free flu shot” ad at a pharmacy like this one, it usually means that most insurance plans are free. If you have health insurance (including Medicaid), you should be able to find a free or discounted flu vaccine. However, if you decide to make an appointment with your doctor, the office visit may be an additional expense, even if the flu shot was free.
How much does a flu shot cost without insurance?
If you’re not fully insured, you can still get a free flu shot at your local health department or community clinic, both of which often host pop-up events early in the flu season. You can also pay out-of-pocket from your doctor or pharmacy – the cost of the injection itself usually ranges from $20 to $75.
Who is at high risk for complications from the flu?
People at greater risk of complications from the flu include the elderly, age 65 and older, pregnant people, people with disabilities, and people with certain medical conditions. Children under the age of 5 are also at greater risk of complications from the flu.
There may be more specific recommendations for people at higher risk, and if you think that’s you, the CDC has some special recommendations.
The information contained in this article is for informational and informative purposes only and is not intended to provide health or medical care. Always consult a physician or other qualified health care professional with any questions you may have about your health or health care goals.