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Flu season is coming soon, and we will have some COVID and RSV vaccine updates. We still feel the optimal time to get vaccinated for influenza in San Diego is late October or November because flu season here usually peaks around January or February, and by vaccinating around November, you will have the most antibodies to protect you around the peak of flu season. However, if you are traveling out of town before November, you can certainly get your vaccine sooner, and in some years, flu season can come early. The CDC usually recommends getting the flu vaccine right now, as soon as it's available, but that's because they are more concerned about developing "herd immunity" in a community (if more people are vaccinated early on, there is less chance that influenza hits that community hard later on). That’s different than our recommendation, which is based on the best protection for an individual.
We carry TWO different flu vaccines, and we already have them in the office. We have the usual 4-strain (quadrivalent) flu vaccine that everyone is eligible to receive. We also have a HIGH DOSE 4-strain vaccine called Flublok which was not available last year, but we do have it in the office already. This vaccine has three times the amount of antigen for 4 different strains, and studies show that it gives 30% better protection than the usual 4-strain flu vaccine when tested in patients ages 50 and above. We do NOT carry the so-called "senior” flu shot (Fluzone High-Dose) which is usually the one that most pharmacies will try to administer to seniors. Given a choice between Flublok and Fluzone, I would choose Flublok because this vaccine is not grown in eggs (unlike Fluzone), so it avoids the possible mutations that can occur in egg-grown vaccines that can alter the final product. However, the difference is not huge, so if you can’t get Flublok, the Fluzone High-Dose is certainly a good substitute. We are recommending the Flublok vaccine in ALL patients ages 50 and above, although you certain can get if you under 50 if you choose to. If you get your flu shot elsewhere, please let us know so we can document it in our records. Most insurances, including Medicare, do cover all flu shots, but if it is not covered, Flublok costs around $80. If you happen to be in the Ximed building on a Tuesday (9 am-12pm and 2 pm-4:30 pm), Wednesday (9 am-12pm and 2 pm-4:30 pm) or Friday (8:30 am-2 pm), you can just stop by the office without an appointment to get any vaccines. If you want to come in on a Monday or Thursday, please call us first. COVID-19 vaccines New 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines have been approved by the CDC and should be in our office in the next couple of weeks:
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine RSV is a wintertime respiratory virus similar to influenza, and it can cause hospitalization and death, especially in the elderly or in people with compromised immune systems. We discussed with many of you last year that we recommended waiting until we had more data on the new vaccine. After another year of data, it turns out that the serious neurologic side effect (Guillain-Barre Syndrome) is very rare, occurring less often than cases of GBS that are the result of catching influenza. The CDC also adjusted their recommendations, encouraging everyone ages 75 and above to get the vaccine, as well as certain people ages 50-74, such people with diabetes, asthma, COPD, and other problems that may affect their immune systems. It is a one time shot (for now), and it is not covered by normal Medicare Part B. Many Medicare Part D plans that cover drugs may pay for it, so we will need to check your insurance before we give it to you. Most commercial insurance do cover RSV. Timing of vaccines If you are planning on getting all 3 vaccines separately, I would recommend getting the COVID vaccine as soon as it’s available (as long as you have not had COVID in the previous 3 months), the influenza vaccine late in October or November (earlier if you have an international trip before then), and the RSV vaccine at any time. You can combine the influenza vaccine with either the COVID vaccine or the RSV vaccine, but I would not do COVID and RSV together, and certainly not all 3 of the vaccines at the same time! One Last Thing - YES ON PROP 35! In the upcoming election, we are asking every to vote YES on Prop 35. This proposition extends the existing tax on health insurance companies, without increasing taxes on individuals, and requires the funds to be used to protect and expand healthcare access for all Californians. It also prevents the State from taking these funds and using them for other non-healthcare related areas. You can read about it more at https://voteyes35.com. Please reach out if you have any questions, and we hope everyone has a safe and healthy Fall and Winter! Wynnshang Sun, M.D.
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