fell far short of the mark, providing about 35% effectiveness against circulating influenza A strains, according to the CDC.
But even a relatively ineffective flu shot confers solid protection against severe disease and hospitalization.
During the 2019-2020 flu season, vaccination prevented an estimated 7.5 million cases of flu; 3.7 million flu-related medical visits; 105,000 hospitalizations due to flu; and 6,300 flu-associated deaths, the CDC reported.
Further, a 2021 study showed that vaccinated flu patients had a 26% lower risk of admission to an intensive care unit and a 31% lower risk of dying from flu compared to the unvaccinated, the CDC stated.
“My patients would come in after flu season and complain, ‘you vaccinated me against influenza but I got influenza anyway,'” Schaffner says. “And I would say, ‘Charlie, I’m so glad you’re here to complain.'”
When’s the best time to get a flu shot?
The CDC recommends October as the best month to get vaccinated for influenza, Schaffner notes.
“It’s the best balance between getting the vaccine early enough to prevent early flu — and as a matter of fact, flu is a bit early this year — while also extending that protection for many people beyond February, which is usually the peak month for flu in the U.S.,” he explains.
But if you miss October, don’t let that stop you from getting the shot, Schaffner adds. It takes 10 to 14 days for your immune system protection to build up.
“If somehow you skip doing it in October, please, by all means, go ahead and still get the vaccine,” Schaffner advises. “Because, as I said, by and large, flu peaks in the United States in February.”
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Is it safe to get the COVID booster along with the annual flu shot?
The CDC is recommending that people get both the new bivalent COVID booster as well as the annual flu vaccine this fall.
“Flu vaccine cannot protect against COVID. COVID vaccine cannot protect against flu. They’re separate viruses. You have to