Where Can I Get a High Dose Flu Shot
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En español | If you lot were one of the eighty percent of people historic period 65 and older who lined up for a influenza shot last year, public wellness experts want yous to go on up the good piece of work this autumn.
But as you make your appointment or arrive at the clinic, at that place'southward 1 more thing you should practise for the best protection bachelor: Ask for a either a high-dose or an adjuvanted vaccine. While experts say a standard flu shot is certainly ameliorate than no influenza shot, these 2 options are designed to recoup for the weaker immune response that comes with age, making your vaccination more effective.
All about the loftier-dose shot
The outset option, the Fluzone Loftier-Dose is an injectable flu vaccine that has been canonical by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for folks over the age of 65 for more than a decade. It contains iv times the antigens (the flu proteins our immune system recognizes and attacks) of a regular flu vaccine. As of last year, the shot is also quadrivalent, which means it offers even more protection because it protects against iv strains of the virus, not just three.
Getting this high-dose vaccine "is very important for older adults, who are more susceptible to flu complications, both because of the decreased immunity that comes with age and too because they are more likely to have other coexisting health weather, such as heart disease or type ii diabetes, that leave them more vulnerable to the influenza'south sick effects," explains William Schaffner, Chiliad.D., an infectious disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
In whatever year, l to 70 percent of flu-related hospitalizations occur among people age 65 and older, co-ordinate to the Centers for Disease Command and Prevention (CDC). "More protection from a high-dose shot could be really important for older people in particular right now, to keep them out of overfilled hospitals," says Schaffner, referring to the possibility that hospitals volition face a daunting flavor of combined flu and COVID-19 cases.
Inquiry on the loftier-dose shot backs this up. A study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine reported that people 65 years and older who got Fluzone High-Dose had a lower take a chance of hospital admission compared with people in that age group who got the standard-dose Fluzone, especially those living in long-term intendance facilities. There'southward also some testify that the high-dose shot might aid protect those over 65 from contracting COVID-19.
An "adjuvanted" shot as well adds protection
The second type of flu shot approved for people over age 65 is the adjuvanted flu vaccine (Fluad Quadrivalent). It's made with something called the MF59 adjuvant, which is an condiment that creates a more robust allowed response. "It wakes upwardly your immune system, then that information technology responds better to the vaccine," says Schaffner.
A 2022 report published in The Journal of Infectious disease showed that both Fluzone (loftier dose) and Fluad (adjuvanted) are effective in preventing the flu and flu-related hospitalizations amidst older adults. When it comes to the 2 shots for older adults, "It'southward honestly six of one, half a dozen to the other," adds Schaffner. "It really boils down to what your doctor's office or chemist's shop has."
When to get your shot
The best fourth dimension to get your shot is from mid-September through Oct, with the goal of hitting the sweet spot betwixt existence early on enough to ensure your body has fourth dimension to build up immunity and late enough in the flavour to make certain amnesty doesn't wear off by March or Apr, says Ronan Factora, M.D., a geriatrician at the Cleveland Clinic'south Center for Geriatric Medicine. Factora besides recommends you consult with your physician about timing, as acme influenza season may vary from ane part of the state to another.
Also endeavor to schedule the shot in the forenoon when possible. A 2022 study published in the journal Vaccine found that adults over 65 who were given vaccines between 9 and 11 a.m. had higher levels of protective antibodies than those given the shot between 3 and 5 p.m.
Yes, you may accept a sore arm
Don't be surprised if you discover more side effects — similar an particularly tender arm — afterward your flu vaccination. "Information technology tends to exist a lilliputian more than sore later on a high-dose shot because you've put in four times equally much influenza vaccine," points out Schaffner. But try to skip the over-the-counter pain relievers, equally inquiry suggests they may dilute the shot's effectiveness.
Y'all tin can too get the high-dose shot at the aforementioned time as you lot get your COVID-19 booster — there'due south no reason why you need to space them out, doctors say — but merely be aware that you may stop up with ii sore arms.
Shortages aren't expected
All flu vaccines, including the high-dose i, are free with Medicare Office B. While in the past, there accept been reports of vaccine production problems leading to vaccine shortages, this year manufacturers have projected that they will supply the The states with as many as 188 million to 200 million doses of influenza vaccine for the 2021–2022 flu season, and they're not anticipating whatever delays, according to the CDC.
Remember: It'due south never too late to get the vaccine, fifty-fifty once the influenza season starts. "The flu ordinarily peaks until February and and then can circulate until April," Schaffner adds. Just realize that even if you do get jabbed, yous still need to have preventive steps similar wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and washing hands frequently to protect yourself against both flu and COVID-19.
Editor's note: This commodity was published on Sept. sixteen, 2020. It was updated in September 2022 with new data most the 2021-2022 flu season.
Hallie Levine is a contributing writer and an award-winning medical and health reporter. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Consumer Reports, Existent Simple, Health, and Time, among other publications.
Source: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2021/high-dose-flu-vaccines.html
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