Season Has Started, But Flu Shot Still a Good Idea

Q:  My doctor recently asked me if I had been vaccinated for the flu. I have not and was surprised that he recommended it at this late date. I thought that the flu season was about over and that getting vaccinated now would offer little protection. Do I really need the flu shot?

A:  The answer depends on whether you are in a group of individuals that is at high risk for experiencing complications of the flu, the most severe being pneumonia. Every year about 36,000 Americans die due to complications from the flu.

Those at risk include:

• Anyone over the age of 50
• Residents of nursing homes and other long term care facilities
• Adults and children over the age of 6 months who have chronic heart or lung conditions including asthma
• Adults and children over the age of 6 months with diabetes, kidney disease, or weakened immune systems due to either treatments for cancer or those with HIV/AIDS
• Children and teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy to prevent Reye Syndrome
• Women who will be more than three months pregnant during the flu season.

Remember that partial immunity is acquired as little as two weeks after the flu shot. As the flu season runs through at least the end of March, getting the shot now will still help. Also, it is impossible to get the flu from a flu shot since the vaccine is composed of killed virus particles. Some people do have a low-grade temperature and some body aches as a mild reaction to the vaccine itself, but these will resolve in a day or two.

"Your Health" provides easy-to-understand information about common health conditions.