Many people get their flu shots every year and think it is a good idea. So our question is have you had your flu shot yet? We hope that you will start thinking about getting a flu shot as it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body, so make plans to get vaccinated early in fall, before flu season begins. The government recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October.
There is a free flu shot for people 65 years and over, pregnant women, those who suffer chronic conditions as well as, for the first time, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People from 6 months of age. However, there was a story on the CBC about two weeks ago that talks about a stronger flu shot that is available for a cost to seniors. According to the story, a 2014 study found the high-dose vaccine to be 24 percent more effective in preventing the flu than standard vaccines in adults 65 or older.
Seniors are more vulnerable to the flu because of their weaker immune systems. Adults 65 and older accounted for up to 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths in recent years, and up to 70 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
B.C. covers standard flu vaccines for those who are eligible for the free vaccine but does not publicly fund the high-dose version. A spokesperson with B. C’s health ministry said it won’t cover the vaccine at the recommendation of the federal government’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization. That committee said there’s insufficient evidence about the vaccine’s benefits to justify its costs. It found 200 people would need to be immunized with the high-dose vaccine to prevent one case of the flu. Pharmacies in the province charge $75 for the shot.
Some of you may now be wondering whether to opt for the standard vaccine sooner and get a high-dose vaccine later. Don’t as the B.C. Centre for Disease Control said it does not recommend double-dosing in the same flu season. We do recommend that you talk to your medical provider or pharmacist about which vaccine is best for you. But now is the time to get your flu shot.