Flu Vaccine
When should you get the flu vaccine?
Plan to get your flu shot in October or November if you can, but getting vaccinated at any tiem throughout the flu season (Oct.-March), will still be beneficial in most years.
Flu is typically seasonal, appearing December through March in Michigan. A flu vaccine is needed each year because immunity lasts only three to six months, and because the strains of influenza change year-to-year.
Protection from the flu vaccine develops about two weeks after vaccination.
Who should receive a flu vaccine?
An annual flu shot is recommended if you:
- Are age 50 or older
- Are six months to 18 years old (two doses may be required)
- Work or live in a long-term care facility
- Are a woman who will be pregnant during flu season
- Are a healthcare professional
- Have a chronic health problem such as asthma, heart disease, emphysema, diabetes, HIV or sickle cell disease
- Live in a household with or provide care to a child less than five years old or an adult 50 or older
- Live in a household with someone who has a medical condition that puts them at high risk for severe complications from the flu (such as someone with a chronic health problem, HIV or cancer)
- Want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with flu or transmitting flu to others this year
NOTE: FluMist is only for healthy persons age 2-49 with no contraindications as listed below
You should not receive a flu shot if you:
- Are under six months old
- Have a fever of 101.5° or more
- Have an allergy to eggs/egg products or had a reaction to a prior flu vaccine
- Have been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome in the past
- Are currently receiving chemotherapy
You should not receive LAIV (FluMistŪ) if you:
- Are under 2 years of age, or older than 49 years of age
- Have a fever of 101.5° or more
- Have an allergy to eggs/egg products or had a reaction to a prior flu vaccine
- Have a long term health problem or chronic medical condition
- Have asthma or reactive airway disease or recurrent wheezing or use an inhaler or nebulizer
- Have a weakened immune system because of HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system, long-term treatment with drugs such as steroids, or cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs
- Are receiving asprin therapy or asprin-containing therapy
- Are pregnant, breast-feeding or could become pregnant in the next month
- Have been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome in the past
- Live with or expect to have close contact (in the next 7 days) with a person whose immune system is severely compromised and who must be in a protective environment (for example- bone marrow transplant patients or patients in a hospital room with reverse air flow)
- Have received any other live vaccination in the past 28 days such as MMR, Varicella/chicken pox, yellow fever
* If you are allergic to Benadryl or Epinephrine, you should only receive the flu vaccine in a medical office with a licensed provider present who is capable of ordering emergency treatments.
Cost of flu shots?
- $41 for flu shot
- $41 for preservative-free pediatric vaccine (for children aged six months to three years)
- $84 for pneumonia vaccination
Where can I receive a flu shot?
- For UMHS patients: Health Center Flu clinic Schedule (PDF) administered by Michigan Visiting Care
- For the public: Community Flu Cinic Schedule (PDF) administered by Michigan Visiting Care
- For UMHS faculty, medical students and volunteers: UMHS Employee Flu Clinic administered by Employee Health Services
- For U-M faculty, students, alumni and others: U-M Flu Clinic Schedule administered by University Health Services
Contact your doctor’s office to determine how to receive your flu shot.
