New flu recommendations for the upcoming season are out and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is suggesting everyone gets vaccinated by October.

It’ll be another five months before flu season peaks in Wisconsin, and another two before we usually start seeing the first case. But pediatricians are getting their vaccines ready as early as August 12, and asking you to act now.

Dr. John Edwards, an Appleton pediatrician, says, “If we can get vaccines going in August and September, it helps maximize the protection the patients will get.”

CDC recommendations released this week encourage everyone, especially kids and seniors, to get vaccinated by October.

“The strains that are in the vaccine will be the same all season,” says Dr. Edwards. “They were the same last year, too, so that wouldn’t change throughout the course of the season.”

He says it wall also last all season.

But last year, the vaccine was only about 20 percent effective, while it’s usually around 40 percent effective.

This year, scientists altered the vaccine once again to try and better prevent strains they’re predicting, based on what they’ve seen around the world.

Mary Dorn, at Outagamie County Public Health says, “But we have to remember that flu vaccine isn’t always to prevent us from disease, it’s to prevent how ill we get, prevent hospitalizations and to prevent death.”

The CDC includes other changes this year:

– Two to eight year olds are recommended either the shot or nasal spray vaccine.

– There is a new 4-strain injection available.

– There is a needle-less injection option for adults

Doctors say whatever way you choose, get the vaccine before flu season sneaks up on you.

More Info At CDC

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