There has been a great deal of information in the media concerning the influenza vaccine in the last few years, stemming from the H1N1 virus. This will continue to be an important topic in the next 6 months as we enter flu season. Many people are anxious to receive the latest vaccine to prevent infection. Although vaccination is encouraged by doctors, there are concerns that vaccination too early may cause problems. The outbreak of the seasonal influenza virus generally occurs at the end of October or early November. The disease has a peak in February and generally is gone by spring (though in Texas we see cases often into April). This means there is a risk of infection lasting 6-7 months.
Considering the flu season is about 7 months, it’s important to give the vaccine early enough to cover the initial outbreak, but not so early that the effects wear off before the season has run its course. This generally means giving the vaccine in October. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - if the prevention is given at the right time.
Written by: Michael C. Martin, MD
