Is It Too Early For A Flu Shot?

PITTSBURGH (NEWSRADIO 1020 KDKA) -- If you've taken a trip to a chain pharmacy recently, you may have noticed the signs for flu shots.

But wait, it's only August - surely, it's too early in the season to get a flu shot, right?

KDKA AM's Larry Richert and John Shumway talked to Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr. Bruce Dixon about if and when you should get a flu shot.

"I think two things have happened," said Dr. Dixon. "One, shots are being made in slightly different ways today; so we've now learned they have a little bit longer life than we once thought, so that's the first factor."

The second factor, according to Dr. Dixon is that the flu pattern has been changing over the last couple of years.

"We've seen flu occurring at various times. We used to think it was late winter, early spring; and it's still the predominant time, but we've had outbreaks as early as November. With the H1N1, there's actually been some outbreaks in the early fall," he added. "So, I think in the interest of trying to cover everybody, the CDC has come out with the newer recommendations that we might as well start early and give it and hope that people's immunity doesn't wane because although we've said that for years, it appears at least from the H1N1 perspective that that doesn't happened as often as we thought.

"So, in short the answer is - if somebody has it, it's probably worth going and getting it," Dr. Dixon said.

Listen to the full interview here:

RELATED LINKS:
Allegheny County Health Department
At-Risk Groups Urged To Get Flu Shot Early
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