Roll Up Your Sleeve: It's Flu Shot Time

The CDC is urging everyone to get an annual flu shot. Although this year's vaccine provides protection against the same strains as last year's, it's still wise to improve your immunity with a shot this fall, the agency says.

Protection wanes over the course of a year, explains Carolyn Bridges, M.D., at the CDC, so "even people who got a flu vaccine last year should get one again to make sure they are optimally protected."

The fact that the vaccines are identical does change things slightly for children ages 6 months to 8 years. In general, children in this age range should get two doses of the flu shot given at least four weeks apart, but they will only need one dose of the 2011-2012 vaccine if they received at least one dose in 2010-2011.

Two doses needed

Children in that age range who did not get the flu vaccine last year need two doses this season.

A new study found that children younger than 3 years were equally protected against the flu whether they received the vaccine as a nasal spray or as an injection. But the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases recommended the nasal spray for young children because it triggered the broadest immune response - meaning children will be protected against a wider range of flu virus strains.

Because the live, attenuated flu virus in the nasal spray vaccine has been linked to wheezing in the youngest recipients, the researchers concluded that the best regimen for children younger than 24 months might be one injected dose followed by one dose of the nasal seasonal flu vaccine.

This season's targeted flu strains are:

• A/California/7/09 (H1N1)-like virus (pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus
• A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus
• B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus

Six manufacturers have been chosen to make and distribute this year's vaccine in the U.S.

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.