Prevent influenza in your family this season
9/25/2024 by Robert Jacobson, M.D.
Everyone ages 6 months and older in your family is due for influenza (or flu) vaccination this season. Vaccination against the flu works. It's safe, and everyone needs it.
Even in healthy young adults, the flu takes its toll. Healthy unvaccinated young adults average one more sick day every year and one more healthcare visit a year. Some years are worse than others. Flu often goes undiagnosed but still causes harm. Part of the harm is spreading it to others: Co-workers, family members and neighbors.
Indeed, school-aged children are most likely to bring a new flu outbreak into the home, neighborhood or community. If your school-aged children missed the vaccine this year at school, they will still benefit if you catch them up now. The flu season in Minnesota lasts through May or June each year.
Flu hits infants, toddlers and those 65 years and older the worst. You can protect infants by vaccinating the mother during pregnancy. However, infants need their own influenza vaccination starting at 6 months. For the first season's vaccination, they need two doses. Children 9 and older only need one dose, even if they've never had the vaccine.
For those 65 years and older, Mayo Clinic recommends the high-dose vaccine. Mayo Clinic also recommends this high-dose vaccine for those who have had a solid organ transplant on immunosuppressive medication who are 18 years and older.
Schedule your influenza vaccination appointment at our Primary Care Vaccination Clinic. Mayo Clinic staff members should plan to receive their flu and COVID vaccinations at one of the many on-campus walk-in clinics if possible.
Take time to get your flu vaccine this season, and make sure your family members do, too.
Robert M. Jacobson, M.D., is the medical director of the Primary Care Immunization Program in Southeast Minnesota. He is a physician in Community Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester and practices in the Baldwin building.