Now is the time to get your flu shot in Austin. What you need to know.

Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman
Updated ·5 min read
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Monica Ortiz receives her flu vaccination Saturday from pharmacy manager Rochelle Guyse at the CVS on Slaughter Lane. Ortiz said she wanted to make sure she got it before seeing Beyoncé in Houston later this month.
Monica Ortiz receives her flu vaccination Saturday from pharmacy manager Rochelle Guyse at the CVS on Slaughter Lane. Ortiz said she wanted to make sure she got it before seeing Beyoncé in Houston later this month.

Flu could be arriving any moment in Central Texas.

"Now is not the time to let our guard down," Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes said last fall. "Everyone, especially children and seniors, needs flu protection."

When should you get your flu shot?

Now works, and doctors say do it by Halloween. "Say 'Boo' to the flu" is a great way to remember. Last year, by the first week of October, 33% of flu tests locally were coming back positive, mostly with influenza A. It takes about two weeks after you get a flu shot to be fully protected.

If I got a flu shot last year, do I need one this year?

You might not have protection from last year's flu vaccine.

Immunity in older adults starts to wane more quickly, usually around six months. Kids’ immunity lasts 12 to 18 months, and typical adults have about 18 months of immunity.

That doesn’t mean adults should skip the shot one flu season. Strains of the flu change yearly, and the shot is for that year’s strains.

While the flu has been quiet locally and nationally, other countries such as Australia, which have their flu season during our summer months, have had more cases this year than is typical, according to the World Health Organization. The cases have mainly been influenza A.

Australia's cases last year accurately predicted the more robust flu season the U.S. experienced.

"I'm expecting it to be a busy one," said Rochelle Guyse, pharmacy manager at a Slaughter Lane CVS.

People are no longer masking as a COVID-19 precaution, aand that means this flu season might be even worse than last year, Guyse said.

"Say 'Boo' to the flu" is a great way to remember to get a vaccination before Halloween.
"Say 'Boo' to the flu" is a great way to remember to get a vaccination before Halloween.

Who can get vaccinated?

Anyone 6 months or older can be vaccinated for the flu. Austin Public Health recommends flu shots for people in these categories because of the chance of severe illness:

  • Adults 65 and older.

  • Children younger than 5.

  • Pregnant women.

  • People with chronic medical conditions.

  • Health care workers.

  • People who live with and/or care for someone at high risk.

Which flu shot should I get?

Check with a doctor if you have a question about which shot to get.

  • Children ages 6 months to 3 years might receive a different form of the shot or half the dosage.

  • Kids 8 and younger need two shots one month apart the first time they get a flu shot to build immunity.

  • People ages 9 and up don’t need to get two shots even if they’ve never had a flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assumes they’ve been exposed to the flu and have some natural immunity.

  • For adults 65 and older, a high-dose flu vaccine is available. It is designed to improve their immunity.

Children 3 and older can go to a pharmacy for their vaccinations. Children younger than 3 need to go to their doctor or a public health shot clinic.

Flu damage: How having the flu could damage your heart, increase risk for attack or disease

Monica Ortiz, getting her vaccination from Rochelle Guyse, said she gets a flu shot every year. Protection wanes over the months, so it's important not to skip a year.
Monica Ortiz, getting her vaccination from Rochelle Guyse, said she gets a flu shot every year. Protection wanes over the months, so it's important not to skip a year.

What are the side effects of a flu shot?

The side effects for all of these are similar, and typically it’s irritation at the site of the shot.

Sometimes people who are allergic to eggs have been told not to get a flu shot, but that is no longer true. If you have had a severe allergic reaction to a flu shot, get the vaccination in a doctor's office.

"I can't think of a patient that shouldn't get the flu shot," said Dr. Vivek Goswami, a cardiologist at Austin Heart.

Is there an alternative to a shot?

For people afraid of needles, a nasal spray vaccine is available for ages 2 to 49.

FluMist, though, is not for everyone. It is a live virus, not the inactive virus in the flu shot. It is not for pregnant people or anyone with asthma, immune suppression or a history of cancer.

Austin Public Health does not recommend it for people 65 or older, or that it be given with other vaccines.

Shot recommendations: What do new flu shot recommendations mean for your family?

Flu shots generally are free for insured people and available at most pharmacies and primary care physicians' offices. If you don't have insurance, Austin Public Health has two vaccination clinics open during the week with reduced rates or even free vaccinations for those who cannot pay.
Flu shots generally are free for insured people and available at most pharmacies and primary care physicians' offices. If you don't have insurance, Austin Public Health has two vaccination clinics open during the week with reduced rates or even free vaccinations for those who cannot pay.

Where can I get a flu shot?

Flu shots generally are free for insured people and available at most pharmacies and primary care physicians' offices.

If you don't have insurance, Austin Public Health has two vaccination clinics open during the week with reduced rates or even free vaccinations for those who cannot pay. You can make an appointment by calling 512-972-5520. Austin Public Health is waiting to receive its flu shots.

How do you know it's the flu?

Flu symptoms typically include:

  • Fever or chills.

  • Cough, sore throat.

  • Runny or congested nose.

  • Muscle or body aches.

  • Headache.

  • Fatigue.

  • Some people might have vomiting and diarrhea, which is more common in children.

Because these are often the same symptoms as for other respiratory illnesses and COVID-19, talk to your doctor about what tests you might need.

Which vaccines do you need: Add vaccines to your to-do list.

How can you prevent the flu?

Follow these hygiene tips:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

  • Cough and sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue.

  • Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes.

  • Clean and disinfect surfaces that could be contaminated with flu.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: What you need to know about flu shots in Austin