If you follow these posts, you know that I usually title them This Week in COVID. While the COVID pandemic continues to dominate the virus space, there is also Monkeypox and even a risk of epidemic Polio in the mix. Here is a link to Dr. Klotman’s weekly COVID update.
One thing that Dr. Klotman’s weekly update does not address is the Flu vaccine. Some folks are signing up for both their bi-valent COVID booster and yearly Flu shot. That may not be the best strategy. The issue is that our antibody response to the Flu vaccine is limited to just a few months. The protective effect of the Flu shot disappears fairly quickly – especially for folks in my 70+ age group. So, one has to guess when the peak of Flu infections will occur in this season in order to know when it is best to take the vaccine.
The CDC has a surveillance system that allows us to see how prior Flu seasons have unfolded. Take a look at the most recent seasons. In 2021, the greatest Flu activity was in December (202152) – week 52 of the year 2021. In 2022, the peak was somewhere after March – week 16+ of year 2022. So, getting the Flu shot in September of 2021 would not have been optimal for the 2022 Flu season.
Now, the best we can do to anticipate the upcoming Flu season is to guess when the peak will occur and then time our own vaccination to anticipate that peak. Being protected from the Flu when there is little chance of catching the virus doesn’t help us. And having waning defenses when the peak does arrive really sucks. I’m getting my bivalent COVID booster this coming Monday. I’m gambling that there will be a COVID peak in mid Fall or Winter, but I’m just betting. As for the Flu, I’m going to wait until late October when my PCP has scheduled me for a Flu shot. That may yet be too early, but it’s all a crapshoot, to be honest.