Important information about Flu shots
Last year’s flu season claimed the lives of more than 1000 people, most of whom were over the age of 65
The flu vaccine benefit wears off at 8% per month, and too early vaccination may mean the benefit is lost by the time it is needed during the main flu season (July to September). (Ref 1). Having your flu shot in April or later will make it effective enough to work when it is needed.
Flu vaccination for the under 65 age group
If you are under 65, have a quadrivalent flu shot such as FluQuadri or Fluarix Tetra.
If you have diabetes, cancer or a chronic lung, kidney, or vascular disease, we have free ones in stock for you.
Flu shots for the over 65’s
Fluzone High Dose and Fluad are free and recommended for all people over 65. We have them in stock.
These vaccines are estimated to promote a 25% stronger immune response to flu than the quadrivalent vaccine that is designed to target the under 65 age group.
Complications of influenza and of influenza vaccination
Guillain-Barré syndrome (Ref 2) is a neurological complication of influenza resulting in about 17 hospital admissions per million episodes of influenza. It also occurs after flu vaccination in which case the incidence of hospital admissions is reduced 17 fold to about one in a million episodes of vaccination.
References
1 Intraseason Waning of Influenza Vaccine Protection: Evidence From the US Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network, 2011–2012 Through 2014–2015
Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 64, Issue 5, 1 March 2017, Pages 544–550,
2 Risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome after seasonal influenza vaccination and influenza health-care encounters: a self-controlled study
Lancet Infect Dis. 2013 Sep;13(9):769-76. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70104-X. Epub 2013 Jun 28.
Dr Terry Rose