Now would be a good time to get your annual flu shot. And you may want to think about a pneumonia vaccine to help prevent pneumococcal infections that can cause pneumonia, meningitis and blood infections.

Mid-September, October or November is the best time to get your vaccination because infection-fighting antibodies that provide protection against the flu generally take about two weeks to develop in the body. But even if you wait until December or later, a flu shot may still help prevent illness since the flu season can last until May. It is important to remember that a vaccination does not offer complete protection against illness. Even if you do get the flu after being vaccinated, you are at less risk of developing flu-related complications such as pneumonia, heart attack or stroke.

The flu vaccine is available in two forms, shot and nasal spray. Our office offers the shot.  While you may experience side effects from a vaccination, a flu shot does not cause the flu. An annual vaccination is recommended because strains of flu virus change from year to year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommends that certain groups of people get vaccinated, including:

• Children six months to five years old
• Pregnant women
• People 50 years or age or older
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
• Health care or child care workers

The vaccine should not be given to people who currently have a fever, had a previous allergic reaction to a vaccine, developed Guillain-Barré syndrome, or are allergic to chicken eggs.

Adults 65 years of age or older also should get a vaccine to protect them against pneumococcal disease, which kills more Americans than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined. The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine protects older children and adults against 23 types of pneumonia-causing bacteria within two to three weeks after vaccination. The one-dose shot also is recommended for people who have long-term health problems, lowered resistance to infection, or those who are of Alaskan native or Native American descent.

The pneumonococcal conjugate vaccine is approved for children under the age of two. The vaccine is routinely given to children in four doses at the ages of two, four and six months, and then between 12 and 15 months of age. The vaccine may be given to children up to five years old who have not already been vaccinated or are at high risk of serious pneumococcal disease.

Both a flu shot and pneumococcal vaccine can help avoid illness, but neither can guarantee that you will not get sick. If you want to stay healthy this fall and winter season, remember to wash your hands regularly; stay away from people who are ill; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; and get your flu and pneumonia shots.

Our office has received our entire order of influenza vaccine.  Please contact the office to schedule your appointment.   If you have any questions regarding the flu or pneumonia vaccine, please contact our office.