When is the best time to get the flu vaccine?

May 5, 2019 / BIOON - when most of us get flu, we'll spend three to four days on the couch, it's painful, and then we'll recover soon But others have more serious symptoms and need to be hospitalized because they have life-threatening complications Some people even die of flu The impact of the flu season varies from year to year In 2017, Australia suffered its worst flu season in 20 years, with at least 1255 deaths The 2018 flu season is relatively mild, but it never seems to be over - cases have been reported from summer to autumn 2019 The best way to prevent influenza is to vaccinate every year It's not as effective as some other vaccines, but it can reduce the risk of influenza by about 60% Photo source: https://cn.bing.com usually weakens its protective effect after 4 to 5 months, so vaccination in late may or even early June will provide you with better protection at the peak of flu season But there are many factors to consider before deciding when to vaccinate Knock on the blackboard - why the flu vaccine every year? The flu virus is changing every year, and the vaccine will be updated according to these changes For example, compared to the 2018 vaccine, this year's vaccine can resist two different strains Over time, our body's immune response to the vaccine also weakens So even if you were vaccinated last winter, 18 months later, depending on your age and reaction to the last vaccine, you may no longer be fully protected When does the flu vaccine begin? Flu vaccines are usually available in early April, or even March; but you usually need to pay full price to get them ahead of time, even if you are eligible for a free flu vaccine later In mid April, stocks of the government's immunization program, which provides free flu vaccines to those most likely to have flu complications, began arriving at general practitioner clinics and pharmacies In addition, most states in Australia provide free vaccinations for all other children between six months and five years of age For those who are not eligible for free vaccines, flu vaccines can be purchased through pharmacies and general practitioners at a price between $10 and $25 (consulting fees if the general practitioner does not have a large bill), or through workplace programs Photo source: https://cn.bing.com would you like to vaccinate early? Vaccinating immediately after the vaccine is launched will ensure you don't miss the vaccine shortage It also prevents the "summer flu" we've seen in the past few months, which spreads earlier than normal But there are also potential disadvantages One to two months after vaccination, resistance to influenza peaked and then declined The rate of decline varies from person to person, from age to age, from strain to strain The flu season usually peaks in August or September So if you vaccinate at the beginning of April, when you reach the peak of the virus, four to five months will pass, and your protection level will be reduced Although a study in 2015 showed a slow decline in measurable antibody responses to influenza vaccine components, few high-quality studies of all ages were able to accurately measure the rate of decline Another 2014 study showed that people who had been vaccinated three months or more in advance had poor results, further proving that the protective effect of the vaccine would weaken over time When is it too late to vaccinate? If you postpone your decision to vaccinate until July or August, when the flu season comes, your chances of getting infected will increase significantly The best time is in late may or early June You can vaccinate before the influenza virus spreads in large numbers to maximize the level of antibody protection produced by the vaccine Remember, it takes seven to 10 days from the time you get the flu vaccine to the time it's fully effective Vaccination at the end of may or early June should provide good protection at the peak of the flu season, which may even last until November, when the flu season is usually over Photo source: https://cn.bing.com vaccinates children a month in advance at a slightly different time Those who have not been vaccinated before the age of six months to nine need two doses of the vaccine, four weeks apart As a result, they need to start vaccinating a month earlier than adults and the elderly So if you want to get vaccinated in 2019, there's no need to worry In fact, may or even early June may be a better time to get vaccinated But early vaccination is better than no vaccination Your family doctor or pharmacist will provide you with the most appropriate vaccine and the best time for vaccination Reference materials: [1] when's the best time to get your flu shot? [2] deaths due to influenza, 2017 [3] heart a Kelly, Courtney lane and Allen C Cheng influenza vaccine effectiveness in general practice and in hospital patients in Victoria, 2011 – 2013 Med J Aust 2016; 204 (2): 76 | doi: 10.5694/mja15.01017 [4] Sullivan SG et al
Influenza vaccine effectiveness during the 2012 influenza season in Victoria, Australia: influences of waning immunity and vaccine match J Med Virol 2014 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.23847 【5】 2019 influenza vaccines — your best shot at stopping influenza
【6】Petrie JG et al Persistence of Antibodies to Influenza Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase Following One or Two Years of Influenza Vaccination J Infect Dis 2015 Dec 15;212(12):1914-22 doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiv313.  【7】Edward A Belongia et al Efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines: a systematic review and meta-analysis The Lancet Infectious diseases 2012 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(11)70295-X