Get ahead of this flu season: California health experts recommend timely vaccination
The ideal time to get the influenza vaccine is by the end of October.
Updated: October 20, 2024 1:26 PM PDT
Experts explain what you need to know. It is distributed every year. It’s a nasty virus for some and deadly for others. Influenza is starting to spread. Influenza typically begins in the fall and can last throughout the winter and spring, with cases of influenza lasting into May in some cases. I spoke with Dr. Vanessa Walker and she said that for now, we are still above that curve. Influenza outbreaks are still rare in hospitals and communities. Although at the moment it is still at a very low level, this leads to the fact that we are at the best time to get vaccinated. If you’re going to get a flu vaccine, it’s probably best to get it by the end of October. That’s when you get it. It takes several weeks for your body to make all the influenza antibodies and for them to be fully effective to truly protect you. Getting vaccinated now will ensure you are covered during peak flu season, which typically occurs near the holidays. Preparing for the end of October means you’ll start protecting when flu cases start to rise in the fall. Then, when we anticipate a surge in December or January, we’ll definitely be protecting as hard as we can. According to the CDC, there are 148 million doses of influenza vaccine in supply. This season, many people avoid formula products that contain preservatives. The CDC warns that co-infection in the public, or having multiple illnesses at once, is not impossible, and the help of vaccination can help reduce that person’s illness. The influenza vaccine saves countless lives, reduces hospitalization rates, and reduces the severity of the influenza virus. Finally, I will briefly explain why you may feel pain or feel unwell after the injection. When we ingest a vaccine or virus, our bodies react in much the same way to eliminate what has entered our bodies. This causes muscle pain. Sometimes you may have a fever, but you may also feel generally tired. It’s the immune system being activated and doing its job. In conclusion, doctors say it’s never too late to get a flu shot, but peak season is almost perfect timing. Now, the shots in Sacramento are from Erin Heft’s KCRA THREE News. And the vaccine is likely to be free if you have insurance, and even without insurance.
Get ahead of this flu season: California health experts recommend timely vaccination
The ideal time to get the influenza vaccine is by the end of October.
Updated: October 20, 2024 1:26 PM PDT
As the cold weather sets in, flu season is expected to increase across the country, and experts including Dr. Vanessa Walker are stressing the importance of taking precautions now. “We’re still seeing very little influenza outbreaks in hospitals and in the community. It’s still at very low levels at the moment,” she explained. The ideal time to get the flu vaccine is by the end of October, so the vaccine can be fully effective before the holiday season, when flu cases usually peak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has secured an adequate supply of 148 million doses of influenza vaccine this year. Many do not contain preservatives. It’s never too late to get a flu shot, but if the virus is circulating, acting quickly will give you the most protection. Walker provides insight into post-vaccination symptoms such as muscle aches and fatigue, emphasizing that they are a normal immune response. Watch in the video player above. See more of California’s top stories here | Download the app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
As the weather gets colder, influenza is expected to become more prevalent across the country.
Experts, including Dr. Vanessa Walker, emphasize the importance of taking precautions now.
“We’re still seeing very little influenza outbreaks in hospitals and in the community. It’s still at very low levels at the moment,” she explained.
The ideal time to get the flu vaccine is by the end of October, so you can get the most benefit from the vaccine before the holiday season, when flu cases usually peak.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has secured a sufficient supply of 148 million doses of influenza vaccines this year, many of which do not contain preservatives.
It’s never too late to get a flu shot, but if the virus is circulating, acting quickly will give you the most protection.
Dr. Walker provides insight into post-vaccination symptoms such as muscle aches and fatigue, emphasizing that they are a normal immune response. Watch in the video player above
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