Flu shots help protect you against the flu.Image: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PD)Anyone at risk for the flu should have a flu shot. For seasonal flu, this includes:
Children ages 6 months to 18 years Adults over age 50 People living in a long term care facility People with weakened immune systems People with frequent exposure to the general public (health care workers, emergency personnel, etc.) Pregnant women Anyone with a chronic medical condition Caregivers or family members in close contact with high risk individuals
The CDC now recommends flu vaccines for everyone over the age of 6 months old.
Anyone with:
An allergy to eggs Fever at the time of vaccination History of Guillain-Barre syndrome Previous adverse reaction to a flu shot Infants under 6 months old
Seasonal flu shots generally become available in the fall, between September and November.
You should get a flu shot as soon as it becomes available if you are at high risk for the flu, although December and even later is not too late to get it. The vaccine takes two weeks to become effective after it is given.
The seasonal flu vaccine is different every year because the formula is changed based on the previous year's strain of influenza virus. Therefore, it is important to get a flu shot every year.
Learn more about how flu shots work.
There are many options when you are trying to figure out where to find a flu shot. The best place to receive your flu shot is at your doctor's office. Your doctor should know your medical history and will know if there is any reason you should not have a flu shot. Flu shots may also be available at:
Pharmacies Walk in clinics Grocery store clinics Hospitals Local Health Department Check your local newspaper or the Flu Clinic Locator for flu shot clinics around your city
The flu vaccine is generally given as a shot in the upper arm or thigh (in children). It is also available as a nasal spray vaccine, but the inhaled form is not for use by children under 2 years old, adults over 49, people with weakened immune systems, or people with asthma.
Beginning in 2011, the Fluzone Intradermal Flu Vaccine is available and is administered using a much smaller needle than the traditional flu shot.
Most side effects from the flu shot are minor. Some of the more common side effects include:
Low grade fever Soreness at injection site Decreased energy
If you experience any:
Severe swelling Difficulty breathing Numbness
Contact your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room, these are signs of allergy or serious complications and could be fatal.
Sources:
"Key Facts About Influenza(Flu) Vaccine." Influenza (Flu). 16OCT2006. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 16 Nov 2006.
Bren, Linda. "Influenza: Vaccination Still the Best Protection." FDA Consumer Magazine. Sep2006. US Food and Drug Administration. 16 Nov 2006.
"Q&A: 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine." H1N1 Flu 16 Oct 09. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 19 Oct 09.
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