Quadrivalent vaccines have this strain in addition to the three above:
B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus
Many influenza vaccines use viruses grown in eggs. However, there are non-egg vaccines available for those allergic to eggs. These include Flucelvax (dog cells) and Flublok (insect cells).
H and I got our shots this weekend, as did youngest son. However, and I throw this out for discussion, a friend of mine who works at a hospital said she is waiting until the end of October for hers because the protection wears off. I always get mine on the early side because it takes two weeks to become effective. I never heard of the protection wearing off. What does everyone here think?
The effects of flu shots are generally thought to last 6 months. Sometimes children of greater risk will receive a second dose (so two in the course of a year) but there isn’t research to support a second dose in one season for adults. It’s not dangerous, but there doesn’t seem to be a benefit.
Anyway, sometimes the timing might take into consideration the prevalence of flu early in the season. If flu seems to be in your area I wouldn’t put it off too long.
I work in health care and our health system is just with the last week starting to give shots to employees.
I’ve asked my various MDs. They all agreed the thing to do is get it when it’s in stock. They haven’t had it “wearing off” on patients and flu cases have already appeared in our state, requiring treatment.
H and I got our shots this week. My folks got them about a week ago at their md appt. My doc & pharmacist said it was a good idea to get it and give it 2 weeks for strongest effect before I fly later this month.
No side effects for H nor I than a bit of tenderness near site for 36-48 hours.
I just got mine this afternoon! Mentioned to the pharmacist that what I really needed was the Shingrix, and he said he had plenty in stock. He said the shortage should be over, but for the second shot, a dose would be held for those receiving their first with him. Had I known he had them, I would have gone yesterday and gotten one; did not want to chance not feeling well for work Monday. Hopefully he will still have them Friday and I will go after work.
Please don’t wait any longer on getting your shot! I know 2 people who got the flu in late August (yes, confirmed by a swab).
Australia had a bad flu season recently and sometimes that is predictive of a bad flu season for us. The last time that happened (2017), the flu hit early and nearly 80,000 Americans died. Funny how we’re all more afraid of Ebola…
I’m getting mine tomorrow when I go for my 12 week appt. Mr R got his a few weeks ago, but I’ve had this nagging bug (with fever) for a while and haven’t wanted to get it while I was sick.
Got mine Friday. Long line at Walgreen’s when I got there. The first woman in line was there for something connected to a worker’s comp claim, but the woman in front of me and the mother & son behind me were also there for flu shots. D is pregnant and wanted to get hers at her doctor’s office last Thursday, but they were out and her university employer has already had their big Flupalooza flu shot event. She’s going to try for one of the small on-campus events later this week. I guess I’m not the only one who has heard about the early flu season.
Got mine the last week of Sept. I’m taking a long plane trip in early November and it takes 2-4 week for full immunity to develop after immunization. Wanted to make sure my immunity was strong before I spent all day hanging that out in airport/airplanes.
And we’ve already had 1 flu death in the state–the first nationally flu death report for the 2019-2020 flu season.
Note that the above article also says that pertussis and mumps vaccine derived immunity fades to the point that vaccine derived immunity probably should not be considered lifetime. You may want to consider getting booster vaccines for those (e.g. choose Tdap instead of Td for the recommended booster every ten years).