Got your flu shot already? Good! If not, get thee to a doctor's office or drugstore, like, now. The CDC announced yesterday that they're preparing for a particularly awful flu season.
Based on the viruses they've seen so far, it looks like influenza A H3N2 is the predominant one this year. Historically, this kind of virus has been associated with higher mortality and flu-related complications than other strains, according to the CDC. And here's the crazy part: About half of the viruses they've analyzed are drift variants, which means they're not exactly the same as the ones your vaccine is prepared to cover. Essentially, your flu shot might not be as effective as usual, since there are slightly different strains of the virus going around.
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But that doesn't mean you should skip the shot if you haven't gotten it already. Actually, the CDC is urging everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible if they haven't already. That's because this shot will still offer some protection against these strains, and it may protect against other viruses that pop up later in the season, according to the CDC. Plus, if you do get the flu, you'll likely have a milder case of it if you've gotten the vaccination.
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So if you're still making up excuses to skip your flu shot—just, stop. It's the first (and best) line of defense against the virus. If you do feel symptoms coming on—even if you've gotten the shot—head to your doctor immediately to find out if you should be put on antiviral drugs. The CDC is recommending that all high-risk people (children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart or lung disease, and kidney disease) ask their doctors about these medications at the first sign of symptoms. This is especially important this year, as the shot may not fully protect against all types of the virus.
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