FAQs
Most eligible adults will be able to get the flu vaccine from 3 October 2024.
Is it too late to get a flu shot? ›
Getting the vaccine later is better than not getting it at all. It's still flu season well into spring. Even then it's not too late for you and your family to get the flu vaccine. Many health care providers give flu vaccines through May if the flu virus is still circulating.
Is Walgreens flu shot quadrivalent? ›
All flu vaccines are trivalent (three components), meaning they are designed to protect against three different flu viruses. The flu shots are injections that are administered into your upper arm. The flu shots do not contain a live virus and are either inactivated or recombinant (contain no influenza virus at all).
What is the extra strong flu shot for seniors? ›
Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent is a four-component flu vaccine. It is one of three influenza vaccines (along with Flublok Quadrivalent and Fluad Quadrivalent) that is preferentially recommended for people 65 years and older.
What month is the flu shot available? ›
When should I get vaccinated? For most people who need only one dose of influenza vaccine for the season, September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated against influenza. Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October.
When did flu shot become available? ›
The vaccine was tested for safety and efficacy on the US military, before being licensed for wider use in 1945.
When is the latest you can get the flu shot? ›
Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October. However, even if you are not able to get vaccinated until November or later, vaccination is still recommended because flu most commonly peaks in February and significant activity can continue into May.
How long does a flu shot take to kick in? ›
Does the flu vaccine work right away? No. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection. That's why it's best to get vaccinated before influenza viruses start to spread in your community.
What is the difference between quadrivalent and regular flu shot? ›
FLUZONE® HIGH-DOSE QUADRIVALENT contains a four-fold higher antigen content per dose than standard dose influenza vaccines to help create a stronger immune response. It is a quadrivalent vaccine, meaning that it protects against four strains of influenza virus.
What is the difference between the regular flu shot and the senior flu shot? ›
The senior flu shot contains four times as much flu virus antigen, which stimulates a boosted immune response, compared to the regular flu shot.
For people 65 years and older, there are three flu vaccines that are preferentially recommended over other flu vaccines: Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent inactivated flu vaccine, FluBlok Quadrivalent recombinant flu vaccine, and Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted inactivated flu vaccine.
Why is Flublok better than Fluzone? ›
Flublok has a higher dose of flu antigen than the standard-dose, quadrivalent vaccine. The results from the 2 flu seasons analyzed suggest Flublok's better protection is more likely related to its higher dose of flu antigen than to manufacturing differences, Hsiao said.
What are the side effects of the new flu shot for seniors? ›
Flu vaccine side effects are generally mild and go away on their own within a few days. Some side effects that may occur from a flu shot include soreness, redness, and/or swelling where the shot was given, headache (low grade), fever, nausea, muscle aches, and fatigue.
What age is Fluzone quadrivalent for? ›
It is approved for use in persons 6 months of age and older. Fluzone Intradermal Quadrivalent: For active immunization of persons 18 through 64 years of age for the prevention of influenza disease caused by influenza A subtype viruses and type B viruses contained in the vaccine.
When is flu season over? ›
The exact timing and duration of flu seasons varies, but flu activity often begins to increase in October. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although significant activity can last as late as May.
When is the best time to get a flu shot? ›
- For most groups, vaccination should ideally be offered during September or October. Vaccination should continue throughout the season as long as influenza viruses are circulating.
- Timing considerations for specific groups include:
Is there a flu vaccine shortage this year? ›
The last lot was manufactured in October 2020 with an expiry date of April 2023. Sanofi expects to exhaust available supply by the end of 2022. Supply of Sanofi's Flublok vaccine for the 2023-24 season is reduced from the original supply plan.
Can you get the flu in the summer? ›
The bottom line
Even though flu viruses are much less likely to circulate in the summer months, it's still possible to get sick with the flu in the summer. And a handful of other viruses can cause flu-like symptoms, including RSV and COVID.