Influenza Vaccine
Influenza vaccine, also commonly referred to as the “flu shot”, is a vaccine made with non-infectious inactivated flu virus. The flu is a contagious respiratory disease that could lead to complications, some serious including illness, hospitalization, or even death. Receiving the vaccine helps to prevent a person from getting or spreading the flu. Mild side effects are common and desired when first receiving the vaccine, meaning the body is responding to the shot. These side effects can include soreness, redness/swelling at site of injection, headache, low grade fever, nausea, muscle aches, and fatigue.
Why get a flu shot?
The flu virus is consistently changing, causing the virus to be different each year. Therefore, the vaccine is updated annually to account for this variance. This is why it’s crucial to get vaccinated every flu season to ensure optimal protection. When received, the flu shot is able to prevent serious illness, doctors office visits, hospitalizations, and deaths each year.
Who should get a flu shot?
The CDC recommends everyone aged six months and older get an annual flu vaccine. For children under six months of age, take extra precautions during the flu season, as they are too young to get receive a influenza vaccine.
For pregnant women, studies have long shown that it is safe and effective for pregnant women, or women attempting to become pregnant, to get a flu shot. The CDC recommends pregnant women receive the flu shot each year. It can protect the mother from acquiring the flu and can protect the baby for up to 6 months after birth.
An important note:
Beginning in the 2023-2024 season, individuals with egg allergies may receive any flu shot, regardless of whether it is egg-based or non-egg-based. Additional safety measures are no longer recommended; however, it is important that all vaccines be administered in a safe setting where allergic reactions can be identified and treated as soon as possible. For individuals still looking for a non-egg-based vaccine, the options include the Flucelvax Quadrivalent and the Flublok Quadrivalent.
Which one? And Where?
For the 2023 – 2024 flu season, the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (AICP) recommends receiving any age appropriate flu shot including inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV), recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV4), or live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4). For patients 65 years of age and older, CDC and ACIP recommends receiving high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine quadrivalent (HD-IIV4), quadrivalent adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine (aIIV4), or quadrivalent recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV4).
The CDC recommends receiving your flu shot before the end of October, but it can be given any time after this. Flu shots can be received in doctors’ offices, clinics, and retail pharmacies. Preston’s Pharmacy is now offering this season’s influenza vaccine. To get the flu shot today, visit Preston’s website and make an appointment online.
