Published October 14, 2024
As the cooler weather begins to settle in, it should serve as a reminder to get your influenza (flu) vaccine. The best way to protect against getting seriously ill from the flu is to get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone ages 6 months and older (with rare exceptions) get vaccinated before the end of October. This gives your body enough time to develop antibodies before the flu begins spreading in your community.
It is especially important for people who are at higher risk of serious complications from the influenza virus to get vaccinated as soon as possible. This includes people who are 65 years and older; people of any age with a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes or heart disease; people who are pregnant; and young children, especially under the age of 2.
People with egg allergies no longer need special precautions. They can safely receive any of the flu vaccines (egg based or non-egg based) at any flu shot location.
You can get your flu vaccine at doctor’s offices, clinics, urgent care centers, pharmacies, health departments, schools, and college health centers. But most important is to get your flu shot before the end of October. To find a location near you, visit: here. To learn more about flu prevention, symptoms, and treatment, visit: here.
