Still Time to Get a Flu Shot

Information provided by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

There is still time to protect your children and yourself from the flu in what remains of a severe influenza season, says the United States Food and Drug Administration.

"Everyone seems to know that the elderly are particularly vulnerable, but so too are children," says William Rodriguez, M.D., Ph.D., a pediatrician at the Food and Drug Administration. "Severe complications are most common in children under age 2, and all children ages 6 months and older should be immunized."

Rodriguez notes that in each of the last 10 flu seasons, between 43 and 153 children died from influenza in the U.S. An average 20,000 children a year under age 5 are hospitalized. So far this year, 16 deaths of children under age 18 have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Currently, 43 states are reporting widespread flu outbreaks, with the District of Columbia and remaining states—Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Montana, South Dakota and Missouri—reporting localized outbreaks.

People are generally immunized in the fall, but they can still get protection from the flu for what remains of the flu season—even though immunization takes several weeks to take effect. The season usually peaks in January or February, with some cases continuing into the spring and even beyond.

"This is particularly late in the flu season for very young children, because to optimize immune response, children between the ages of 6 and 35 months need two shots, four weeks apart, during their first season of vaccination," said Rodriguez. "However, even one shot provides some protection, so even now there is time to get some benefit."

As of the end of Nov. 2012, 112 million Americans were immunized for this flu season, leaving the majority unprotected as of that time, according to CDC.

Although some locations have stopped offering the flu vaccine, which each year is approved by FDA, supplies remain available. Consumers can find out where to get a flu shot by calling doctor's offices, clinics, pharmacies and supermarkets.

This article appears on FDA's Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

Please consult with your healthcare provider about vaccinations.

You can get your flu vaccine at any of these locations:

• Rite Aid #5753
  30222 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel
  (949) 495-5823
• CVS/Pharmacy Store #8880
  29995 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel
  (949)495-2383
• Walgreens
  30192 Town Center Dr, Laguna Niguel
  (949) 495-8414
• Walgreens
  30192 Town Center Dr, Laguna Niguel
  (949) 495-8414
• CVS/Pharmacy Store #3057
  30261 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel
  (949)363-0482
• Walgreens
  27982 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel
  (949) 360-8215

• Rite Aid #5735
  24829 Del Prado, Dana Point
  (949) 493-5100
• Sav-On Pharmacy
  33601 Del Obispo, Dana Point
  (949) 496-9490
• CVS/Pharmacy Store #9912
  32575 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point
  (949)248-4803
• CVS/Pharmacy Store #9581
  32900 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point
  (949)489-9030