Flu
season is under way and your best defense against getting sick is to take your
shot—as long as you time it right
Flu season is just
getting under way and, according to the Centers for
Disease Control, the single best way to ward off the virus is—you
guessed it—to get a flu shot.
What you may not
know: the best time to get the shot (it’s never too late during flu season but
some months are better than others); the best vaccine to ask for (there are several
kinds); where to go for it (Costco, anyone?), how much it will cost; and how
effective it will be.
Here’s what you need
to know about this year’s flu shot.
Okay, so when should
you get the flu shot?
The flu vaccine is
now widely available in most doctors’ offices and pharmacies, where it tends to
be prominently marketed.
Although the optimal
date to get the vaccine was by the end of October, you’re still well within
prime time for the shot, according to the Centers for Disease
Control—especially if you do it within the next week or two. That’s because it
typically takes about two weeks for the antibodies that protect you against the
virus to kick in and the peak period for catching the flu runs from December to
February.
Research suggests the
vaccine’s effectiveness begins to drop after four months, especially in older
adults.
In fact, it’s
probably better to get it a little later than the CDC’s recommended October
date than too early. That’s because research suggests the vaccine’s effectiveness begins to drop
after four months or so, especially in older adults. Since flu season typically
runs from October to March but can last until May, getting your shot too early
could leave you more vulnerable to the disease later on.
Can’t get to the
doctor or pharmacy for your shot this month? Don’t worry.
“It’s never too late
to get vaccinated,” says Litjen Tan, chief strategy officer for the
Immunization Action Committee and former director of infectious disease,
immunology, and molecular medicine at the American Medical Association., “even
in December or January.”
Which type of shot should you get?
There are several
different types of flu vaccines, all of which have been updated for the 2018-19
flu season to better match the viruses that will be circulating. Nearly all of
this year’s varieties will be quadrivalent vaccines, which protect against four
different strains of flu.
If you’re 50 or older
but younger than 65, any of the regular-dose vaccines are fine, except for the
nasal spray, which is recommended for people up to age 49.
“It’s
never too late to get vaccinated, even in December or January.”
Litjen
Tan, chief strategy officer, Immunization Action Coalition
Those 65 and older,
who are particularly vulnerable to the flu and often get sicker when they come
down with it, should ask for one of two stronger vaccines available. That means
either a high-dose version, Fluzone High-Dose, that contains four times the
amount of antigen as a regular flu shot; or FLUAD, a vaccine with adjuvant, an
ingredient that creates a stronger immune response.
Where should you get
the shot?
You can get the
vaccine from your doctor, drugstore chains, most local pharmacies, many
supermarkets and big-box stores (think Costco, Walmart, or Target) and,
increasingly, your workplace. According to a study last year from the Society
for Human Resource Management, nearly 60% of employers now offer on-site flu
vaccinations.
Does it matter where
you go for yours? Not from an effectiveness standpoint, says Tan. He suggests,
“Just get the shot where it’s convenient for you.”
How much will the
vaccine cost?
For most people with
health insurance, the flu shot is free.
The Affordable Care
Act requires both government and private health plans to cover all vaccines
recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, including the flu shot.
Medicare also covers the shot at no cost, while Medicaid covers flu shots for
children from six months to four years and adults over 50, plus older children
and younger adults with certain health issues.
·If you have private
insurance, check with your provider to find out if you must visit a specific
facility to get your flu shot for free. Many plans cover flu shots given at
pharmacies, though some people end up paying out-of-pocket because it’s more
convenient than filing an insurance claim, says Tan.
Regular flu shots
given in chain pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens generally run $40 to $50.
Costco offers shots for around $20 ($19.99, to be precise). The high-dose
vaccine may cost more, around $70.
If you do not have
insurance, your local health center (find yours here) or state health department may offer free or low-cost
flu shots.
Is the flu shot safe
and effective?
Cross safety off your
worry list. “I can’t stress enough that the flu shot is an incredibly safe
vaccine,” says Tan.
It is a myth that the
flu shot can give you the flu. The vaccine takes 10 to 14 days to become
effective after getting the shot, says Dr. Tan, so exposure to the flu in that
window may make you sick.
The flu shot
typically lowers your risk of getting sick by 40% to 60% and reduces the
severity of the disease if you do catch it, according to CDC studies. Still, in
any particular year, how effective the vaccine will be is the “million-dollar
question,” says Tan, since the viruses in circulation change from year to year.
You can further
reduce your chances of getting the flu with some simple, commonsense
precautions: Stay away from people who are sick and wash your hands frequently,
which has been shown to reduce the spread of the disease by up to 50%.
Purell, anyone?
No comments:
Post a Comment