Dr: Don’t get flu shot too early

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – With the upcoming flu season many are in a rush to get their yearly flu shot.

However, the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department said that people should hold off on getting their flu shot until the weather starts to turn. Dr. Vicki Whitacre said the best time to get a flu shot is the first week of October.

“It’s advertised and people feel they should get it as soon as it’s available. But the flu season lasts clear into March and April of next year. And the best part of the immunity is the first six month of the shot,” said Dr. Whitacre.

Dr. Whitacre said it takes two weeks for the shot to take effect and taking it too early could mean that the shot will be ineffective when the flu season really hits. Dr. Whitacre also warns anyone who may be traveling that they should get a flu shot.

“The flu shot is still available clear into the end of June of next summer. If you didn’t get a flu shot for whatever reason and you’re going to travel to the southern hemisphere, the south part of the Earth, that’s when their flu season is. And you would want to get a flu shot as late as in June if you were traveling to South America or Africa,” said Dr. Whitacre.

Dr. Whitacre said it is most important for the youth, the elderly, and the sick to get the flu shot.