The U.S. may be in for a bad flu season this year, and health experts are urging people to get a flu shot as soon as possible.
“September or October is a good time to get [the vaccine] because that will give your immune system at least a few weeks to utilize the vaccine before you are potentially going to be exposed to the virus,” said Michael Mina, assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in an October 17, 2019 article in the Boston University Daily Free Press.
Although people may still contract the virus even if they get a flu shot, Mina stressed that the vaccine reduces the duration and severity of symptoms. It’s also an important public health measure that will help protect those who may not be able to receive the vaccination, such as infants or people who are immunocompromised.
Read the Boston University Daily Free Press article: Flu season is here, professionals urge students to get vaccines