One Too Many Flu Shots?

Q:  I took my dad, who is 89 and very forgetful, for a flu shot last week, only to find out that he'd already had one the day before! Could any harm come to him from having two shots so close together?

A:  Elderly people, and people with underlying chronic health problems, are at increased risk for flu and its complications and should be vaccinated yearly in the fall.

October to mid-November are the best times to get the shot because peak flu season is usually December through March. Each year's vaccine contains the three virus strains that are likely to spread in the US.

Contrary to what some people may think, the flu shot has only non-infectious viruses and does not cause flu. Fever, muscle aches and fatigue may occur about 6-12 hours after vaccination and may last for a day or two, but these are just a reaction to the shot, and not true influenza.

I don't expect your father will be any the worse for having two shots.This answer has been updated from a previous column.

"Dear Doctor" is a compilation of patient questions answered by doctors from the Medical College of Wisconsin.