This Year’s Flu Shot Delayed
Posted August 25, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The vaccine is usually available to the general public around mid-October, but because of production delays, you’re not going to be able to get your shot until around mid-November.
High-risk groups like seniors and health care providers usually get the vaccine about a month before the rest of the public – usually in September – and this year they can get the shot in October.
Official dates have not yet been determined.
Officials are hoping they’ll be able to get the preventative treatment out in time. Dr. Michael Finkelstein of Toronto Public Health says the flu season usually starts around October/November and reaches its peak by December.
“It’s hoped that the vaccine will be in before that time so we can vaccinate high risk people well before that time,” he said.
Health officials can’t use last year’s vaccine on those high risk groups because it expires in the summer after it’s produced and circulated strains change, which was the main reason for the delay.
“One of the new strains was a little slower growing in the egg, which is where the flu shot is cultured,” Finkelstein explained.
If you’re worried about preventing the flu before the shot is available, Finkelstein said regular hand washing and maintaining a healthy diet are two good ways to ward off the bug.
