Six great reasons to get the flu shot early

One factor you could be certain of is that the flu season will come yearly. And certain, the height flu season is a reasonably lengthy span of time – sometimes from October by means of March yearly – however that doesn’t imply it’s best to wait to get vaccinated. Ready is a foul thought.

Well being, security, comfort – there are many causes to get your flu shot as early as you probably can. Listed here are six of one of the best ones.

1. The beginning of the flu season is unpredictable

“We by no means know if and when influenza might be prevalent locally annually. For that cause, it is sensible to get vaccinated early so that you simply’re protected within the occasion that influenza hits early,” says Stephen Hippler, MD, chief scientific officer for OSF HealthCare.

So the flu may not hit your neighborhood arduous till January, or it would arrive tomorrow. There isn’t any approach to predict when flu season will start. Get vaccinated now and breathe straightforward for the remainder of flu season.

2. Peel the bandage quick

Like ripping the bandage off actually quick, you recognize it’s important to do it, so do it fast and get it over with.

Possibly not everyone has a crippling worry of needles, however most of us can agree that we don’t get pleasure from getting a shot. So, get it out of your means. Get the flu shot now and also you gained’t have to consider it once more for an additional 12 months. Keep away from spending weeks dreading the needle and realizing it’s important to get poked anyway.

3. The vaccine lasts the whole flu season

Getting the flu shot early doesn’t imply you have to to get a second one earlier than the flu season is up.

The immunity to the flu, which the flu shot helps you construct up, does decline over time. That’s why you should get vaccinated yearly. Nevertheless, the consequences of the vaccine ought to final nicely past the size of the flu season.

4. Get it out of the best way earlier than the busy vacation season takes up all of your time

Thanksgiving is on the best way, with Christmas quick on its heels. In line with one well-known track, it’s essentially the most great time of the 12 months, and it’s approaching rapidly. Quickly, we’ll all be quick on time with an extended to-do listing we have to full to organize for the vacations.

Once you’re overloaded with vacation preparations, the very last thing you want is to try to squeeze in a fast flu shot, too. Or worse, you can get caught in mattress for per week or longer with the flu. So get the flu shot now, earlier than you even want to fret about your Halloween plans.

5. It takes time to construct up resistance to the flu

Getting the flu shot doesn’t make you instantly proof against the influenza virus.

When you obtain the vaccine, it takes your physique two weeks to construct up the antibodies it wants to guard you from an infection, in response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. Throughout that point, you’ll be able to nonetheless get the flu. The sooner you get the flu shot, the higher the possibility your physique might be able to defend itself when flu season arrives.

6. Bragging rights

So possibly you weren’t the primary individual at work to get the most recent smartphone. Don’t fear, there might be one other likelihood quickly. There all the time is. Till then, you could be the primary individual at work to get this 12 months’s newest flu vaccine.

Exhibit that bandage in your shoulder and watch everybody attempt to conceal their jealousy.

Discuss to your major care doctor about when and the place to get your flu shot.

Final Up to date: October 5, 2023