The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that to get solid and complete protection during the ongoing cold and flu season, you should get an influenza vaccine now. According to the health authority, the ideal time to get the flu vaccine is by the end of October.

“Flu viruses typically spread in the fall and winter, with activity peaking between December and February,” the agency said. “Getting vaccinated in the fall may reduce your chances of getting the flu.”

Each year, the flu vaccine targets the three influenza strains that are most likely to spread across the country and cause disease – influenza A, B and C. Only influenza A and B cause pandemics. Of these two types, there are usually two different strains that are in circulation, and the strains are so different that immunity to one of them does not confer immunity to the others.

According to the FDA, the strains are identified by looking at flu trends in the Southern Hemisphere, where winter is cold and flu season while the US has summer. “The flu vaccine will prompt your immune system to produce antibodies to protect you from influenza illness — it will not make you sick with the flu,” the FDA said. “It can take about two weeks for the body to develop antibodies after vaccination, which is an important reason to get your flu vaccine before flu activity begins.”

Why is the influenza shot needed every year?,

According to experts, every year you need to upgrade your influenza shots because the virus increasingly mutates into new strains that try to evade previous immune protections. And so, annual vaccination plays an important role in preventing the spread of flu, as it reduces the risk of catching the virus and transmitting it to others. When more people are vaccinated, it creates a protective barrier, making it harder for the flu to spread through communities.

And apart from the protection provided, the efficacy of the flu vaccine wanes over time and may do little to protect a person from the flu this season. “Anyone can get sick with the flu,” the FDA said. “In general, children and people age 65 and older are at the highest risk of developing serious complications from influenza. Additionally, pregnant people and people with certain chronic medical conditions are also at the highest risk of complications.

Statistics on flu in America

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during the 2023–2024 US flu season, there were:

• 35 million to 65 million flu illnesses
• 16 million to 30 million flu-related medical visits
• 390,000 to 830,000 flu-related hospitalizations
• 25,000 to 72,000 flu-related deaths

The CDC also estimates that thanks to the flu vaccine, Americans have avoided:

• 6 million influenza-related illnesses
• 2.9 million influenza-related medical visits
• 65,000 influenza-related hospitalizations
• 3,700 influenza-related deaths

The FDA says that even though this is the right time to get the shot, you can still benefit from it as fall turns into winter. “If you’ve already been sick with the flu this season without getting vaccinated, it’s still important to get the flu vaccine because it helps prevent illness caused by three different strains of the flu virus,” the FDA said. ” “You’ve likely been infected with one type of flu virus strain, so the vaccine will provide protection against strains you haven’t already been exposed to,” the statement added.

How do influenza shots work?

Doctors say that flu vaccines develop antibodies in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against flu disease.

Seasonal flu vaccines are designed to protect against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season.

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