So, what’s new with the flu this year?
We’ll get to all the 2024 flu vaccine info you need, but first – let’s dive into a little history. Influenza, or the flu, was named for an epidemic in 15th-century Italy attributed to the “influence of the stars.”
The pandemic of “Spanish” influenza in 1918–1919 caused an estimated 21 million deaths worldwide. Thankfully, scientists in the 1930s succeeded in isolating influenza A and B viruses. This led to the development of inactivated vaccines (IIV) in the late 1930s and 1940s.
Since then, scientists have developed the first live, attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) — that was in 2003. A non-live, recombinant influenza virus vaccine (RIV) – not requiring isolation or growth in hen’s eggs – was licensed in 2013.
But while the flu may be a household name at this point, it’s important to remember that, even today, thousands of people die yearly from flu, and many more are hospitalized. Read on to learn how influenza vaccines help prevent millions of illnesses and flu-related visits to the doctor each year. Plus, all the info you need on getting your flu shot this year.
In This Article
- What’s new with the flu vaccine this year?
- Current clinical guidelines for the 2024 flu vaccine
- What flu vaccines are available in 2024?
- Who should definitely get the flu vaccine and who shouldn’t
- The best time to get the vaccine, side effects, and efficacy
PLEASE NOTE: We research and reference this information, but also express opinions of the experienced professionals of Village Apothecary. We are pharmacists, but we may not be YOUR pharmacist. Do not make any medical decisions without first contacting your primary care provider.
What’s New with the Flu Vaccine This Year?
Here’s the skinny on the 2024 flu vaccine updates:
- For the 2024 flu vaccine, egg allergy is no longer a contraindication. Woo hoo! Additional safety measures are no longer recommended for flu vaccination of people with an egg allergy. And yes, that’s regardless of the severity of the previous reaction to egg.
- Next year (2025-2026) a combo flu + COVID vaccine will be available, but for this season, you must get them separately.
- Vaccine manufacturers have projected that they will supply the United States with as many as 150 million to 170 million doses of influenza vaccines for the 2023-2024 season.
- All 2024 flu vaccine options will be trivalent (three-component).
- Most will be thimerosal-free or thimerosal-reduced vaccines (91%), and about 21% of flu vaccines will be egg-free.
Learn More: Vaccine Ingredients in 2024: Less Scary Than You Might Think
Current Clinical Guidelines for the 2024 Flu Vaccine
The official, CDC recommendations for the 2024 flu vaccine can be found here. But, just to make it easier for you, here’s a summary of who is eligible.
Who’s Eligible?
- If you are over 9 years of age and have not yet received an updated 2024 flu vaccine, then you are eligible for immunization.
- Children between 6 months and 8 years of age are eligible for one OR two doses of the updated influenza vaccine:
- 1 dose if 2 or more doses are documented prior to July 1, 2025
- 2 doses administered at least 4 weeks apart if 2 or more doses are not documented prior to July 1, 2025
Still unsure if you’re eligible or not? Click here to find more information on eligibility, or chat with one of our vaccination experts.
What Flu Vaccines Are Available in 2024?
Below is a list of the currently available flu vaccines, but there’s no real need to pick favorites.
Not one of the updated 2024-2025 flu vaccine brands is preferred over the others. All are recommended for patients who have not yet received an updated immunization.
- Fluad (Regular + High-Dose)
- Flucelvax (Regular + High-Dose)
But keep in mind that high-dose flu vaccines are generally recommended for patients 65 years of age and older. Please speak to your healthcare or vaccine provider for more information.
Learn More: Vaccines Do Work, But They’re Not Perfect
Our Recommendations
Who Definitely Should Get This Vaccine
- We recommend everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated every flu season.
- Children 6 months through 8 years of age may need 2 doses during a single flu season. Everyone else needs only 1 dose each flu season.
- Vaccination is particularly important for those at increased risk for severe illness and complications from influenza. This includes elderly patients, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant people.
- We recommend that women who are pregnant, might become pregnant, or are up to two weeks postpartum during the influenza season receive any licensed, age-appropriate IIV or RIV product. Vaccination can occur at any time during pregnancy, before and during the influenza season.
- People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting the influenza vaccine.
Who Should Not Get This Vaccine
- To reiterate: Since the 2023-2024 season, additional safety measures are no longer recommended for flu vaccination of people with an egg allergy. (Regardless of the severity of previous reactions.)
- However, as with other vaccines, a history of severe allergic reaction to a vaccine component or following a prior dose is a contraindication to further doses.
- Moderate or severe acute illness (with or without fever) in a patient is considered a precaution to vaccination, although those with minor illness may be vaccinated.
- History of Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of receipt of influenza vaccine is a precaution to vaccination for all influenza vaccines licensed in the United States.
- Although IIV (inactivated influenza vaccine) and RIV (recombinant influenza vaccine) immunizations are recommended for pregnant people, LAIV (live attenuated influenza vaccine) vaccines are contraindicated during pregnancy.
- Because vaccine composition is reviewed and updated each year, refer to ACIP’s most recent recommendations for contraindications and precautions.
The Best Time to Get The Flu Vaccine
“Short Answer: Generally, October or early November – but watch out for early flu surges!”
-Dr. Neal Smoller
Flu vaccine season traditionally starts in late October or November, peaks between December and February, and lasts until about May. However, there are plenty of recorded examples of early starts, so effective vaccination must take this into account.
Generally, the ideal time to get vaccinated for flu is in October or early November.
Learn More: Seasonal Vaccination: When Should You Get Your Vaccines in 2024?
Side Effects
“Local reactions are the most common adverse reactions following the flu shot. These include soreness, redness, tenderness, or swelling at the injection site. These reactions generally last only 1 to 2 days. In clinical trials, pain at the injection site was the most common side effect.”
-Dr. Neal Smoller
Keep in mind: Nonspecific systemic symptoms, including fever, chills, malaise, and myalgia, occur less often, typically occurring only in first-time flu shot recipients. When these symptoms do appear, it’s usually within 6 to 12 hours of vaccination — they typically last 1 to 2 days.
However, in some influenza seasons, IIV has been associated with an increased risk for febrile seizures on the day of and the day after vaccination in young children.
A febrile seizure is more likely to occur if IIV is given on the same day as the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccines. Most febrile seizures are brief and have a good prognosis. ACIP reviewed the risks and benefits of febrile seizures after IIV and did not make any changes in the recommendations for administering pediatric vaccines; these vaccines can be given on the same day.
And then there’s Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a serious neurological condition that can cause paralysis and is known to occur after multiple infectious illnesses, particularly gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections.
GBS is known to occur rarely after influenza illness. Safety monitoring of seasonal IIV over the course of many years has not detected a clear link to GBS. If there is a risk of GBS from IIV, it would be no more than 1 to 2 cases per million people vaccinated. Studies suggest that the risk of GBS after influenza illness is higher than the potential risk of developing GBS after vaccination.
Learn more about the officially listed side effects of the flu vaccine here.
Are Flu Vaccines Effective?
Good news everyone! Vaccination is effective in reducing the risk of influenza illness by 40% to 60% in the overall population when vaccine strains and circulating viruses are similar.
Studies have demonstrated a variety of benefits to influenza vaccination. The benefits include fewer illnesses, medical visits, ICU and hospital admissions, and days in the ICU and hospital. Fewer deaths have been demonstrated in children as well.
Additionally, some studies show that the severity of illness among vaccinated persons who become sick is reduced. Influenza vaccination has also been associated with positive outcomes for people with chronic health conditions. These range from lowering rates of cardiac events among people with heart disease to reducing the risk of hospitalization and acute respiratory infection for pregnant women.
But influenza vaccine effectiveness depends on many factors. For example, the similarity of the vaccine strains to the circulating strains, the age and health of the recipient, and the type of vaccine administered all play a role.
For practical purposes, the duration of immunity following influenza vaccination lasts less than one year because of vaccine-induced antibody waning and antigenic drift of circulating influenza viruses. It’s also important to keep in mind that the vaccine can be less effective in preventing illness among persons aged 65 years and older.
Learn More: Vaccine Season Preview: 2024-2025
Flu Who? 2024 Flu Vaccine Updates for the Win
Long story short: The updated 2024 formulas for influenza vaccines have likely reached your area! If not, they will be soon.
So the time for scheduling your flu vaccine is, well, right now.
Stay safe and healthy during the upcoming cold and flu season with a science-backed vaccine, but don’t forget that vaccinations are just one part of a wellness strategy. To learn more about scheduling your 2024 flu vaccine and other wellness practices to keep you in tip-top shape, speak with one of our experts or continue exploring our blog.
