Get Your Flu Shot for the Upcoming Season

Our clinic are now offering flu shots in the Bronx and Westchester for patients, and the sooner a person gets the shot, the better.

A shot does not provide instant protection from illness and that’s why you should get it sooner rather than waiting. A body can take 10 to 14 days to build up protection against influenza viruses circulating during flu season. Vaccines have been updated to better match circulating viruses for the coming season, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This seasons’ shots cover four strains of flu virus. The standard dose can be administered in one shot. A high-dose shot is available for older people. For young children receiving their first flu shot, a second dose a month later is recommended.

If you’re going to Thanksgiving and family gatherings for the holidays, you’ll have a much greater exposure to the flu virus. Building up immunity ahead of such gatherings is important. And we recommends the stronger vaccine for people age 65 and older.

2018-2019 Flu Season

The 2018-2019 influenza season was moderately severe, with activity beginning to increase in November, peaking in mid-February, and returning to below baseline in mid-April. The 21-week season was the longest in 10 years, according to the CDC’s recent Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report.

According to the report, influenza A viruses had significantly predominance, while influenza B virus had very little activity. There were 2 waves of influenza A during the season, influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 viruses from October 2018 to mid-February 2019 and influenza A(H3N2) viruses from February through May 2019.

Compared with the 2017-18 influenza season, rates of hospitalization this season were lower for adults, but similar for children. It was noted that the rates were most similar to those observed during 2014-15 and 2016-17 and well below those during 2017-18. Although influenza activity is currently below surveillance baselines, testing for seasonal influenza viruses and monitoring for novel influenza A virus infections should continue year-round.

The World Health Organization and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System laboratories contribute a virologic surveillance for influenza. During the 2018-2019 influenza season, clinical laboratories tested approximately 1.2 million specimens, and among those tested, 15.5% tested positive, including 95% for influenza A and 5.0% for influenza B.

Get Your 2019-2020 Flu Shot Today

Our health department offers shots regardless of insurance coverage. We encourage everyone to get a flu shot, especially since the risks of not getting a flu shot outweigh the positives.