As we get into the colder months of the year, many people are getting ready to take their seasonal vaccines, including the flu vaccine. While the flu vaccine has been shown to significantly reduce the chances of getting sick, developing serious complications, and even doctor visits, there are essential things to do before you get your seasonal flu vaccination. We will discuss pre-vaccination things-to-do in this article.

Why Do We Get Sick During Colder Months & How Do Vaccines Help?

Generally, during the colder months of the year, you are more likely to get the flu and various other illnesses, such as COVID-19. There are many reasons for this. Research shows that cold air during colder months reduces your nose’s ability to create extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are structures that are pushed into your nasal cavity to fight off viruses that enter your body. Due to diminished EVs, you may be more susceptible to cold-season viral illnesses. Another reason is that you are spending more time indoors. Due to the difference in air circulation and ventilation in an enclosed space compared to the outdoors, if there is a virus indoors, you have a higher chance of catching it (Atlantic Health). As a result, it is especially important to get vaccine shots especially for illnesses such as the flu. 

Flu vaccine is the best way to avoid getting sick from the influenza virus and from developing serious complications from it for almost everyone (Mayo). According to the CDC, around the time of year when the flu is the most common, the flu vaccine was shown to reduce the risk of going to the doctor by about 40-60%. The flu vaccine was also shown to have prevented 7 million flu cases in 2019-2020, before the Covid-19 pandemic began (CDC).

As a result, the CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for nearly everyone 6 months or older. It’s especially important for older adults, young children, pregnant women, and those with chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular or metabolic diseases, to get vaccinated. However, there are certain populations that are at the risk of developing complications from the flu shot. 

In order to make an informed decision, here are the steps that you should take to ensure the best flu shot options for you.

Your Vaccine Options: Understanding the Different Types Available

There are two types of the flu vaccine given to people, one is a flu shot and the other is a nasal spray. Flu shot is usually egg-based and relies on an inactive form of the virus for vaccine development.

The flu shot is suitable for all people six months or older and contains an inactivated or killed virus that is injected into the upper arm, or in the case of children, thigh. 

The nasal spray vaccine contains a weaker version of the live virus and is administered to healthy adults between the ages of 2 and 49 and who aren’t pregnant. The nasal spray vaccine contains a live flu virus but it is one that is weakened and itself cannot cause a flu illness (National Foundation of Infectious Diseases). 

Assess Your Health History: A Key Step Before Vaccination

It is important to understand your health history and determine whether or not you should take a vaccine, what type of vaccine to take, when you should take the vaccine, and what to expect in terms of side effects. This requires looking at your health history to assess your best fit in terms of the flu vaccine.

Who Should get the Flu Vaccine – Most individuals 6 months or older should get the flu vaccine even if they have egg-allergies (CDC).

Who Should Not get the Flu Vaccine – 

• People with severe, life-threatening allergies to flu vaccine ingredients (other than egg allergies) should not be given the flu vaccine. 
• People who have had a severe allergic reaction to a dose of the influenza vaccine in the past should also not receive the same type of vaccine again. 
• Infants younger than 6 months are also too young to be vaccinated with the influenza vaccine (CDC). As a workaround, mothers in their third-trimester of pregnancy can receive the flu shot to protect themselves and their unborn children.

Who Should Exercise Precaution While Getting the Flu Vaccine – Anyone with a history of the Guillain-Barré Syndrome within 6 weeks following a previous flu vaccine dose should be given a flu vaccine with caution. Talk to your doctor if you have had the GBS following a previous flu shot.

Who Should Not Get the Live Attenuated Vaccine?  – It’s also important to understand that different types of the influenza vaccine may be suitable for different individuals. In case of the active attenuated influenza vaccine, someone who is pregnant, has a weakened immune system, or has had Guillain-Barre Syndrome is at risk of developing complications when taking this vaccine (CDC). 

It’s best to talk to your healthcare provider to see whether other options are more suitable for your condition.

Consult with Healthcare Professionals: Who You Should Speak To

It is important to talk to your own healthcare provider and consult them before getting your flu shot. Do not rely on the internet to do a self-assessment as that may lead to misinformation or misguided information. 

Doctors, specifically your primary care physicians, have complete knowledge of your medical history, potential side effects of the vaccines, and whether you are at any risk when taking vaccines. By taking your health history into account, they will be able to give you the best recommendation as to whether you should take the vaccine or not and whether alternatives are available that may better suit your health needs. 

Timing is Everything: When to Schedule Your Vaccination

For most people, the CDC recommends getting the vaccine during September or October, around the time when the weather starts to get cold. Generally it is not recommended to get the vaccine in July or August, however there are some exceptions:

• Pregnant women in their third trimester who would like to get the vaccine to protect their baby from the flu due to them being too young to receive the vaccine at birth.
• Children, specifically those who need two doses of the vaccine, should get the first one as soon as it is available and then get the second vaccine four weeks after the first one. It can also be administered for children who may not be able to get the vaccine during later months.

However, for people who are over the age of 65 and pregnant people in their first or second trimester, it is advised that they should avoid getting the vaccine in July or August unless they will not have a chance to get it later (CDC).

Preparing for Side Effects: What to Expect After Vaccination

There are overlapping as well as unique side effects to getting either a flu shot or a nasal spray as your vaccine procedure (CDC). 

Some of the side effects of the flu shot are:

• Soreness
• Redness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Fatigue.

Some of the side effects of the nasal spray are:

• Runny nose
• Wheezing
• Headache
• Vomiting 
• Fever 

If you think you’ve had an adverse reaction beyond the expected symptoms, the CDC recommends that you call your healthcare provider and seek immediate medical care. 

Though the chances of serious side effects are very remote, there is a small increased risk of Guillain-Barre Syndrome or other severe allergic reactions.  If you have had a serious adverse reaction to the flu shot, you will be able to file a report with the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). 

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Health by Preparing for Your Seasonal Vaccination Today!

It is important to make sure you know all about the flu vaccine for this upcoming fall and winter. There are many things you need to take into consideration and it helps to talk with a healthcare professional before deciding to get the vaccine. 

If you are looking for a primary care doctor in Campbell, Los Gatos, or Saratoga, CA who specialties in immunizations, Dr. Arun Villivalam is a concerned and caring family physician, primary care, and general physician. He offers physicals and exams for general well-being, sports physicals, as well as Medicare annual wellness checks. Dr. V also helps his patients manage chronic diseases, provides blood work as needed, stress management support, and specializes in men’s & women’s health & wellbeing. Feel free to contact our office at (408)-502-6040.