Flu season in the U.S. traditionally starts in October and runs through early spring.
According to the CDC, the 2011-2012 vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that appeared in 2009 and grew into a pandemic.
So, the first step is prevention. Get that shot. It takes two to four weeks for the vaccine to take effect. Even if you received your shot last year, you still need a new shot each year.
The flu shot is recommended for everyone older than 6 months – the American Academy of Pediatrics’ new guidelines targets children as young as 6 months -- and is especially recommended for the more vulnerable, such as pregnant women, young children, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, neuromuscular disease, heart and lung disease, and people 65 and older.
