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When should you get the flu shot? A doctor weighs in on best timing, options.
When should you get your flu shot?
Flu season typically starts in December and peaks in February, so the “optimal time” to get vaccinated is heading into the season, Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, said on “CBS Mornings” Monday.
“Before Thanksgiving, say mid-November, you want to get your flu shot, your COVID shot. But that said, whenever you can get it done, you should get it done, even if it’s a bit earlier than that,” Gounder said.
Holding off until a bit before the holiday is helpful because it takes about 2 weeks for protection to develop after vaccination.
Those among the most at risk for flu complications include:
- Children – “In particular, kids under the age of five are at risk,” Gounder said.
- Adults 65 and older
- Pregnant women – “a group that’s often forgotten about,” Gounder said.
- People with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma
- People who are immunocompromised
During the 2023 to 2024 flu season, the CDC reported nearly 200 children died, most of whom were eligible for a vaccine but did not receive one. Federal officials are warning that a drop in vaccinations may have led to this increase in pediatric flu deaths.
“Unfortunately, coming out of the COVID pandemic, we have seen a rise in vaccine skepticism, people less willing to get vaccinated, and as we’ve seen with the pediatric flu vaccines, that has led to increased hospitalizations as well as, unfortunately, some deaths,” Gounder said.
FluMist vaccine vs. flu shot
The FluMist vaccine, manufactured by AstraZeneca, was approved in 2003 for health care providers to give patients, but the method has gotten renewed attention due to a new, broader approval.
On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration announced it broadened the approval of the FluMist nasal spray to become the first “self-administered” influenza vaccine. The vaccine will not be available to ship to homes until next year’s flu season at the earliest, however.
If you’re debating between getting the shot or spray, Gounder said FluMist is “not as effective as the shots that you can get.”
“The shots historically range from 20 to 60% effective, depending on how good the match is — that’s still pretty good,” she said. “The FluMist is maybe around 25% effective in preventing severe disease, but for people who just can’t be bothered to go in and get a flu shot, who really hate needles, it does give you an option to at least reduce your risk a little.”
There are also some limits to who FluMist is recommended for. Since it uses a live but weakened version of the virus, some patients, like pregnant people or those who are severely immunocompromised, should not get this vaccine.
contributed to this report.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed conceded the mayoral race to Daniel Lurie Thursday afternoon with a social media post that congratulated her competitor.
The mayor also thanked the city and its residents for “the opportunity to serve the City that raised me” in the post on X just after 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
There had been rumblings that Breed might concede the race earlier Thursday having come in behind Lurie in the last vote count released Wednesday morning.
“Today, I called Daniel Lurie and congratulated him on his victory in this election,” the post read. “Over the coming weeks, my staff and I will work to ensure a smooth transition as he takes on the honor of serving as Mayor of San Francisco. I know we are both committed to improving this City we love.”
Breed spoke at a press conference less than an hour after the social media post to answer questions from reporters about her decision, reiterating some of what she said in her social media post.
“The city is on the rise. The office is bigger than just one person, and I called Daniel Lurie earlier today to congratulate him,” the mayor said. “And made it very clear my team and I stand ready to support him during his transition. We will always do everything we can to ensure the success of the city and that there is a smooth transition, so that the important work that has been done and needs to continue in San Francisco moves forward.”
When asked if this was the hardest speech she’d ever given, Breed quickly dismissed that idea.
“No, it’s not. There’s been other harder speeches. I mean I had to make a hard decision to close the city down during a global pandemic. I had to deal with…the racial reckoning that happened after the tragic death of George Floyd. I had to go out in the middle of the night and tell people that Mayor Ed Lee had passed away. There are numerous occasions.”
Six years ago, incumbent London Breed became the first Black woman to serve as mayor of San Francisco after the death of Mayor Ed Lee in late 2017. The then president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors was automatically appointed as the city’s acting mayor early the morning after Lee’s death.
In June of 2018, Breed won the special election that was held to fill the office, defeating her main opponent, former state senator Mark Leno.
Breed faced a number of major challenges during her first term in office, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the city’s ongoing issues with drug abuse and homelessness, rising housing costs and a spike in retail crime that some chains cited as the reason behind closing stores in San Francisco.
While Breed has touted progress in reducing the number of homeless encampments and pushed programs to fill vacant business spaces downtown, the mayor’s struggles have led to 11 other candidates entering the race to challenge her for the job.
“Over the coming weeks, I plan to reflect on all the progress we’ve made. But today, I am proud that we have truly accomplished so much and my heart is filled with gratitude,” Breed’s message said in closing. “During my final two months as your Mayor, I will continue to lead this City as I have from Day One – as San Francisco’s biggest champion.”
Daniel Lurie has announced that he will speak to the media about the latest developments Friday morning.
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