Health officials are urging people to get their flu shots this year, but changes to guidelines will make the process more accessible, even for those with common allergies.
The flu season is usually from October to May and peaks from December to February. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that vaccination should ideally be done in September-October or “as long as the flu virus is circulating.”
Exceptions to the fall schedule include pregnant women in their third trimester during September and October and children aged 6 months to 8 years who need two doses of the vaccine. People in these groups should get their first dose of the vaccine as soon as it becomes available.
All available vaccines are recommended for people aged 6 months to 64 years. People over the age of 65 should be vaccinated with one of the high-dose versions of the vaccine. Quadrivalent high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine, quadrivalent recombinant influenza vaccine, or quadrivalent adjuvant-inactivated influenza vaccine.
Some children need two doses
Several children under 9 years old Two different flu vaccinations, 4 weeks apart, are required.
According to the CDC, that number will depend on the child’s vaccination history. Children under the age of 9 who are getting their first flu vaccine or who have had only one dose by July 1, 2021, should receive two doses at least four weeks apart. there is.
Children 9 years and older require one dose. If your child is younger than 9 years old and has received 2 or more influenza vaccines at least 4 weeks apart any time before 1 July 2021, they will be vaccinated in the same influenza season. A single dose is sufficient regardless of whether or not the vaccine was given in succession.
change this year
A big change this year concerns people with egg allergies.
The CDC’s new guidance states that no additional safety precautions are required for people with an egg allergy and that “any version of the vaccine that is appropriate for the recipient’s age and health may be used,” regardless of whether it is egg-based or not. and Not egg based.
“From the 2023-2024 season, additional safety measures will no longer be recommended. Flu vaccination “There is an increasing proportion of people with egg allergies beyond which vaccination is recommended, regardless of the severity of previous egg reactions,” CDC said in its advisory.
The CDC has previously advised people with egg allergies to avoid some egg-based vaccines or to take extra precautions when administering vaccines by health care workers.
