Many people are not sure when is the best time to get the flu vaccine. If it is not already clear, fall and the flu season are both upon us. According to data from Vaccinate Your Family, a national non-profit organization committed to reducing the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases, the official flu season starts in October and peaks between December and May. So this means individuals, especially the ones who are unvaccinated, will be susceptible to catching the flu for months to come. And this, by the way, is not rooted in baseless conjecture; it is an unsettling truth substantiated by multiple studies. One of those studies comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which found that 3% to 11% of Americans develop the flu annually. It further revealed that between 2010 and 2020, the flu virus was responsible for more than 710,000 hospitalizations and some 12,000 to 52,000 deaths. That all said, the fall and winter seasons can bring about more than just cooler temperatures alone.

The Truth About the Flu and What It Does to the Human Body

So that everyone is on the same proverbial page, the flu, also known as influenza, is a contagious respiratory illness that can affect the nose, throat, and sometimes even the lungs. While we are on the topic, it is worth noting that there are several strains of the flu virus, and they can each take a tremendous toll on the nose, throat, and other parts of the body that comprise the respiratory system. According to the CDC, there are four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C, and D. However, the A and B variants are the two commonly associated with the flu during the fall and winter seasons. That said, human influenza A and B viruses each have subtypes. The consequence of these subtypes is more people coming down with the flu as temperatures begin to take their yearly nosedive. Symptoms associated with human influenza A and B, not to mention their various subtypes, can include the following:

Fever
Muscle aches
Chills and sweats
Severe headaches
Dry and persistent cough
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Runny or stuffy nose
Sore throat
Eye pain
Vomiting
Diarrhea

Who Should Be the Most Worried About Contracting the Flu?

In truth, everyone should worry about catching the flu during flu season. Studies show that no one is immune to any of the varying strains of the flu virus. However, young children, elderly adults, and anyone with a chronic health condition are among the most vulnerable. It is also worth mentioning that the flu can severely impact a woman’s pregnancy. According to data from MedlinePlus, an online information service produced by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, when a woman is pregnant, it is harder for her immune system to fight off infections, especially viral ones. The same data show that women who become sick with the flu are more likely to encounter pregnancy complications. These complications can include the following:

Preterm births
Low birth weight
Stillbirths
Bronchitis
Pneumonia
Neural tube defects

Given these various complications, it’s easy to see why OBG-YNs and flu clinics in Monterey and throughout California routinely advise pregnant women and women who are thinking about becoming pregnant to get the flu vaccine. But pregnant women are not the only ones who should make getting vaccinated against the flu a top priority. Many of the same physicians and flu clinics in Monterey also encourage individuals with HIV, Aids, and other chronic diseases to do the same since doing so helps forestall complications that can cause such health conditions to worsen prematurely.

Physicians and Clinics in Monterey Discuss the Best Time to Get an Influenza Vaccination

There is no time like the present to get vaccinated against the flu. After all, it is already the fall season, and winter, which marks the start of peak flu season, is just around the corner. Cognizant of this, nearly all clinics, including VNA, a health clinic that provides comprehensive consultation and immunization services to people in California and international travelers alike, and physicians are encouraging people to get vaccinated as quickly as possible. And this is especially the case for individuals with an above-average chance of catching the flu, such as pregnant women and anyone with an underlying, chronic health problem. On that note, the CDC says September through October is the best time for most people to get the flu vaccine. Which one is ideal will depend on, among other things, an individual’s age. Bearing that in mind, some of the influenza vaccinations currently available to individuals in California and across the country include the following:

Flucelvax Quadrivalent – This cell-based, egg-free flu vaccine contains a virus grown in cell culture that provides solid protection against most strains of the flu virus. And according to the CDC, it is approved for infants, young children, and adults.

Flublok Quadrivalent – This recombinant, egg-free flu vaccine is a good fit for individuals aged 18 and older. Studies show Flublok Quadrivalent contains three times more antigen, an ingredient in the vaccine that helps protect the body against flu viruses, than standard-dose inactivated influenza vaccines. And it is made without any flu viruses, which means, unlike with other vaccines, individuals are less likely to get sick after being injected with it.

Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent – This egg-based, high-dose flu vaccine is a good fit for individuals age 65 and older who want to lower their chances of getting sick with the flu. Like Flublok Quadrivalent, Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent contains significantly more antigens than other standard-dose inactivated flu vaccines. And this makes it easier for the immune system to fend off the flu virus.

Fluad Quadrivalent – Approved for individuals 65 years and older, this egg-based vaccine contains MF59, an ingredient added to the vaccine that helps stimulate a more robust immune response when someone comes in contact with any variation of the flu virus.

All in all, the time to get the flu vaccine is now. And if you’re hesitant about getting vaccinated, you should know most studies show that the flu vaccine can reduce an individual’s chances of contracting the flu by as much as 60%. In addition to the ones mentioned in this article, many other vaccines can protect individuals from the flu during this flu season. To learn about those other vaccines or for help choosing the vaccine that is right for you, consider speaking to a VNAassociate today.