Every winter, the rate of flu cases all over the country sharply increases. While it’s thought that there are a variety of reasons for what is commonly known as flu season, what we do know for certain is that seasonal flu vaccines represent our most effective protection during this risky time of year.
With the flu season now in full swing, we at Bikham Healthcare thought we’d take this opportunity to discuss everything you need to know about seasonal flu vaccines, including the different types that are available, how flu vaccines work and the level of protection that they offer, and who should get vaccinated against the flu.
The Types of Seasonal Flu Vaccines Available
Today, there are numerous different types of flu vaccines available, designed to accommodate a range of patient ages and other considerations. Your physician will be able to help you choose the vaccine that is best suited for you, but it’s still helpful to have an understanding of the vaccines that are available and who they are intended for.
The different types of seasonal flu vaccines available today include:
- Standard-dose flu shots – These vaccines are manufactured using viruses grown in eggs. Standard-dose flu shots come available in numerous brands and are approved for use in children as young as six months.
- Cell-based flu shots – Cell-based flu shots are similar to standard-dose flu shots but are completely egg-free and instead made using viruses grown in cell culture.
- Recombinant flu shots – These vaccines are manufactured using recombinant technology to produce a vaccine that is made without flu viruses and are approved for people over the age of 18.
- High-dose flu shots – High-dose flu shots are approved for people aged 65 years and older and contain four times as much antigen (the part of the vaccine that helps your body build up protection against flu viruses) as standard-dose flu shots.
- Adjuvanted flu shots – These vaccines contain an adjuvant – an ingredient that helps create a stronger immune response – and are approved for people aged 65 years and older.
- Live attenuated flu nasal spray vaccine – These vaccines are administered via a nasal spray and are approved for people aged 2-49.
How do Seasonal Flu Vaccines Work and How Effective Are They?
Flu vaccines work by introducing a small protein from the flu virus into your body. This causes your body’s immune system to produce antibodies that will remain effective if and when you are exposed to the actual flu virus.
With that said, though, the flu virus is something that is constantly evolving into different strains – and producing flu vaccines entails a little bit of guesswork regarding what the next flu season’s strain will look like. In years when the match between the vaccine and virus is good, seasonal flu vaccines offer a very high degree of protection. On average, though, seasonal flu vaccines offer about 40-60% protection against the flu.
As for the specific type of protection offered by seasonal flu vaccines, vaccines can often entirely prevent you from getting sick when exposed to the flu. Even in cases where you do experience symptoms, though, being vaccinated against the flu is likely to reduce the length and severity of your illness.
Who Should Get the Flu Vaccine?
Young children and elderly adults are the people who are most vulnerable to experiencing severe and potentially life-threatening cases of the flu. However, it is recommended that everyone over the age of six months should get a seasonal flu vaccine every year, with the only exception being people who are allergic to one or more of the vaccine’s ingredients.
This flu season, getting vaccinated against the flu is the best choice you can make to prevent serious sickness. Be sure to take this opportunity to check where the vaccine is available in your area.
