Got your flu shot? Docs say don’t wait

The search for a flu shot this year may sound surprising similar to a coffee stand order.

Do you want a triple or a quad?

Doctors and health officials advise consumers not to worry. Dr. Gary Goldbaum, health officer for the Snohomish Health District, said just get whichever shot is available at a local pharmacy or clinic.

The designations refer to how many strains of flu the shot is designed to help prevent. Quadrivalent vaccines help protect against four flu types, two A and two B strains. In the past three years, production of quadrivalent vaccines has increased.

Trivalent vaccines protect against two A strains and one B strain. Goldbaum said that was type available when he got his shot. “It’s the A strain that causes most of our flu,” he said. “You’re not getting that much extra oomph with the quad.”

Flu immunizations generally are recommended for everyone six months and older.

Dr. John Dunn, who helps lead the immunization team at Group Health, said the public sometimes makes the mistake of thinking that if the quadrivalent vaccine is not immediately available, they should just wait until it is. Either type of shot is fine, he said, “just get one.”

For some, there are other choices, too.

Those age 2 through 49 can receive a vaccine that is squirted up the nose if they’re generally healthy.

And adults 65 and older can get a high-dose vaccine. Demand has increased over the past several years for this version of the shot, Dunn said. The reason it’s recommended for older adults is that their immune systems are less likely to be able to fight off influenza. Studies show the shot can help, he said.

The reputation of flu immunizations being good insurance against catching influenza took a hit last year when they were much less effective than usual. Overall, the immunizations reduced a person’s chance of getting the flu by about 19 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So some people got the flu despite being immunized.

This year’s vaccines are expected to be much more effective, Goldbaum said.

Dunn said patients who are hesitant to get immunized tell him they or their family members never get sick or that they’ve never had the flu.

“It’s a little bit of a constant challenge,” he said. “Bonafied influenza is a triple shot — you get a lot sicker for a lot longer,” he said. Symptoms often including fever, headache, body aches and respiratory problems. “Many people have a more mild illness and mistakenly think they have the flu and are surprised when they do get the flu for the first time,” Dunn said.

Adding to the confusion over what is and what isn’t influenza are the more than 300 strains of virus that can cause respiratory symptoms such as coughing, he said.

Dr. Yuan-Po Tu, who tracks influenza issues at The Everett Clinic, said although there’s been some scattered outbreaks of flu this year, nationally and in Washington, so far the number of cases are low.

Consumers shouldn’t have any problem finding opportunities to get immunized. “I’ve never seen a supply as good as it is this year,” he said.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.

Flu immunizations

Influenza immunizations can protect people against the flu. The immunization generally is recommended for everyone six months and older.

It is available as a shot. A high dose shot is available for those 65 and older. The immunization also can be provided through a nasal spray for healthy children and adults, from age 2 to 49 who are not allergic to eggs or have serious health conditions such as asthma or weakened immune systems, such as people undergoing chemotherapy treatments. It takes about two weeks for any of these immunizations to provide protection against the flu.

More about the flu

The flu is different from a cold. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose.

The flu usually comes on suddenly and can cause some or all of these symptoms:

A fever, feeling feverish or having chills

Cough

Sore throat

Runny or stuffy nose

Muscle or body aches

Headaches

Fatigue

Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, although this is more common in children than adults.

Simple steps to slow flu’s spread: