In the News Flu 2022~ Q and A – Part I

Here we are again… about to embark on another flu season. This year though you can be prepared by following along with this Flu 2022 Q & A filled with information that will help you weather the flu season storm. 

(Editor’s Note: All medical information contained in this article was obtained from the Centers for Disease Control CDC website.) 

Q: What is the recommendation for receiving a flu vaccine this year? 

A: Annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months and older, with few exceptions as has been the case since 2010. New this season, however, is a preferential recommendation for the use of higher dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines in people 65 and older over standard dose, unadjuvanted flu vaccines.

Q: What viruses will this year’s flu vaccine protect against? 

A: The recommendations for the 2022-2023 season include two updates compared with the recommended composition of last season’s U.S. flu vaccines. Both the influenza A (H3N2) and the influenza B (Victoria lineage) vaccine virus components were updated. 

Q: When is the best time to get my flu vaccine? 

A: It’s best to be vaccinated before flu begins spreading in your community. September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated against flu. Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October. However, even if you are not able to get vaccinated until November or later, vaccination is still recommended because flu most commonly peaks in February and significant activity can continue into May.

(continued in Part II…)