If you haven’t done so already, you should get your flu shot now. In today’s Vital Signs, Dr. Jeremy D. Brown, a family medicine doctor with Baylor, Scott and White Health Frisco, explains the timing to KERA’s Sam Baker. He also explains who needs the shot and why.
Dr. Brown: It’s going to take about two weeks for that flu vaccine to get to its full protection potential. We don’t want to get it too early in the season because then most protection that we get from the vaccine might start to wane before this flu season is over. So, if we can target that early October timeframe, that’s usually enough time to give us proper coverage for the worst part of the flu season.
Baker: Is November or later a problem?
Dr. Brown: Even if, if it doesn’t work out for you to get it before that, still getting it in November or December is still great. Personally, I can say I see a lot of positive flu cases in March and April and whatnot. So, we’re seeing even later in the season, even rolling into spring. So, it’s still a good idea to get even if it’s a little later.
Baker: What flu strain are we seeing so far this year or that we’re anticipating this season?
Dr. Brown: In my own clinic, I’ve seen probably equal amounts of A and B. I’m sure as we get into colder weather, we’ll start seeing a shift.
So, like I said, it’s a little early to say now, but what I will say, when it comes to flu, people often say to me, well, what’s the worst? Is it A? Is it B? Well, flu A can actually impact humans and animals. It’s more prevalent and it mutates faster, all right? And that tends to make adults sicker.Flu B, that’s strictly with humans, and it mutates much slower than A, and that actually tends to hit children and younger adults harder.
Baker: So, who should get a flu shot?
Dr. Brown: Honestly, everyone should get a flu shot.
I know certain people have allergies to certain things within the vaccine, but we essentially need to look at it in three ways. We look at our infants and we look at our immunocompromised individuals that may have cancer or autoimmune conditions, and we’ll look at elderly. Those are our populations that are at risk. The more people that are vaccinated, the less of a punch given to these individuals.
Another thing that I hear a lot “I’m healthy. I don’t get the flu. I don’t need the shot.” Well, actually in some individuals, that have a really strong immune system, the vaccine actually helps train the body to allow the immune system to respond to if you are exposed to the vaccine, because some people have an over-the-top immune response. You know, if they’re not vaccinated. So, getting the vaccine can actually help modulate your immune system, so if you do get sick, it’s not as, once again, not as severe.
Baker: Beyond the shot, is there anything you should do to avoid getting the flu?
Dr. Brown: Yes. Good hand hygiene goes a long, long way. So make sure you wash your hands.
If you are not feeling well, be honest and call in to work or let those around you know because it’s very easy to pass the flu on to others.
I do believe that there’s benefit to taking some immune boosters like vitamin C, zinc, vitamin D, B12, you know, there’s a lot of things out there that people can take to help and boost their immune system naturally as well.
I understand people have their own thoughts on it, but this is a public health initiative, right? Even if you think that you are healthy enough and you don’t need the vaccine, think about the infant, elderly person, the immunocompromised person. So, the more people that are vaccinated, the easier it is for us to hopefully get the number of cases down in the area, which benefits everyone.
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