THURSDAY, Oct. 17, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Folks who want solid protection during the cold and flu season should get the influenza vaccine now, the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration says. The ideal time to get the flu vaccine is by the end of October, the FDA said in a news release . “Flu viruses typically spread in fall and winter, with activity peaking between December and February,” the agency added.
“Getting vaccinated in the fall can lower your chances of getting the flu.” Each year’s flu vaccine targets the three influenza strains that are most likely to circulate and cause illness in the United States, the FDA said. These strains are identified by watching flu trends in the southern hemisphere, where the wintertime cold and flu season is taking place while Americans are summering.
“The flu vaccine will trigger your immune system to produce antibodies to protect against influenza disease -- it will not make you sick with the flu,” the FDA added. “It can take about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body, which is an important reason to get your flu vaccine early, before flu activity starts.” Folks need a flu shot each year because viruses mutate rapidly into new forms that attempt to evade previous immune protection, the agency explained.
In addition, the protection provided by an annual flu vaccine diminishes over time, and might be too low to prevent a person from catching the flu this season, the FDA added. “Anyone can g.