Flu Conundrum: The Season Looks to Be a Long One—but You Have Less Time to Vaccinate

We may still be firmly entrenched in summer, but flu season is rearing its ugly head earlier than usual this year. Sporadic cases have popped up from Atlanta to San Diego already. Unfortunately, this coincides with federal health officials revealing there will be a shorter time frame in which people need to get their flu vaccine this year. The Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization put off deciding on the “final” formulation for as long as possible in order to increase the odds of getting a good match for the current strain, but may have waited a little too long to pull the trigger. Now they estimate they’re 3–to 4 weeks behind schedule. Still, the message to the public is as clear as ever—get your flu shot as soon as is feasible, stay home from work or school if you’re having symptoms, and undertake proper hygiene measure to protect yourself and others starting now. Flu shots are especially important for people over the age of 60; anyone with diabetes, heart disease, or immune issues; children under the age of 2; pregnant women; and people who live with anyone who has these conditions.