Flu Shot Target Gift Card 2022 (2024)

FAQs

How effective was the flu shot in 2022? ›

Key takeaways:

Vaccines reduced the risk of having a health care visit for influenza by 35% to 44%. This effectiveness held across subgroups, including older adults who are at increased risk for influenza complications.

March 1, 2024 -- The vaccines for this flu season are 41% to 44% effective in preventing flu-related hospitalization in adults and 52% to 61% effective for children, according to estimates in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report issued Thursday.

All flu vaccines for the 2023-2024 season will be quadrivalent (four-component). Most will be thimerosal-free or thimerosal-reduced vaccines (91%), and about 21% of flu vaccines will be egg-free.

Protection lasts around 6 to 8 months, starting two weeks after you receive the vaccine. Once the season ends, the flu shot does not protect you any longer: you will need a new vaccination for the following year's season. In fact, you should get the shot with the current season's vaccines the FDA approves yearly.

Flu vaccination can keep you from getting sick with flu.

During seasons when flu vaccine viruses are similar to circulating flu viruses, flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor with flu by 40% to 60%.

Flublok Quadrivalent and Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent are indicated for immunization against disease caused by influenza A and B strains contained in the vaccine. Flublok Quadrivalent is given to people 18 years of age and older. Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent is given to people 65 years of age and older.

Seasonal influenza activity remains low nationally. CDC estimates that there have been at least 35 million illnesses, 400,000 hospitalizations, and 25,000 deaths from flu so far this season.

After about 6 months, your immunity starts to fade. This falling level of protection (from a lessening amount of antibodies), combined with ever-mutating flu viruses, means it's important to be vaccinated for the flu every year.

The flu shot can last for up to six months, though it is most effective for the first three months.

Christopher Worsham, HMS assistant professor of medicine and critical care physician at Mass General, led the study. “One thing we have some control over is the timing of the shot,” Jena said, “and it looks like October is indeed the best month for kids to get vaccinated against the flu.”

What are the serious side effects of this year's flu shot? ›

It's normal to have some side effects like soreness where the shot was given. It's rare, but you may also get a low grade fever or feel some aches. They will probably only last 1 to 2 days, and then you'll be back to normal. If you have different symptoms than aches after a shot, you may have caught a cold.

It's best to get the flu vaccine in the autumn or early winter before flu starts to circulate widely, so that you are protected as early as possible. But don't worry if you haven't had the vaccine yet – you can still have the vaccine later in winter if stocks are still available.

Flu Vaccination Can Be More or Less Than 12 Months Apart

roughly a year between flu vaccines. However, there is no added risk if your shot falls less than 12 months apart, and receiving a flu shot every flu season is advisable regardless of whether they are 11 months apart or 15 months apart.

It takes up to two weeks to build immunity after a flu shot. You can benefit from the vaccine even if you don't get it until after the flu season starts.

The effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines administered in autumn and winter 2022 to 2023 ranged from 29% to 39% against any SARS-CoV-2 virus and from 44% to 52% against the XBB lineage within 89 days of vaccination. Effectiveness decreased by time since vaccination, with no protection from 180 days.

Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Over Time

The flu vaccine needs two weeks to become fully effective, and protection is thought to last for at least six months. 9 But a person's antibody levels in response to the vaccine can decrease over time, and different flu strains may be circulating.

What's the nation's progress on vaccinations? At least 270,227,181 people or 81% of the population have received at least one dose. Overall, 230,637,348 people or 70% of the population are considered fully vaccinated.