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Dr. Priya Sampathkumar, an infectious diseases specialist says she is often asked who should get vaccinated and the best time of year to do so. She answers those questions and more in this Q and A.
Q: Who should get the flu vaccine?
A: It is really simple. Everybody over the age of 6 months should be getting the flu vaccine unless they have an allergy to the component of the vaccine, which is actually very infrequent. Even egg allergies are no longer considered a contraindication to the vaccine.
Q: When is the best time to get a flu vaccine?
A: You need to get the flu vaccine at least two weeks prior to the onset of flu activity in your region, and that can vary from place to place.
Q: Is there ever a time that is too early to get the flu vaccine?
A: For most people, no. You can get it as soon as the flu vaccine becomes available. For immunosuppressed patients and of the elderly, sometimes the effect of the vaccine can wane in six months. For instance, if you get it in August, you may not be protected in March, and that’s when flu is still circulating. So, there’s a little bit of concern about that, but I would urge people to get it when it’s available.
Q: Why do we need to get a new flu vaccine every year?
A: The flu virus is a virus that is constantly evolving. It goes through what are called mutations all the time. Between one year and the next, the flu virus undergoes changes, and that’s why we need to give you a new vaccine every year. Every year, the flu vaccine has four different strains that are collected from all over the world. Public health authorities pick the ones they think are most likely to cause infection.