Winter Is Coming: Do I Need a Flu Shot and When Should I Get It?

Winter's coming and so is the flu.

As we head into yet another winter, the rates of incidence of the dreaded influenza virus will start to rise. 

If you're like me, you might've floated through life never worrying about getting a flu vaccine because you're relatively healthy and have been lucky enough to never get a serious bout. But, what you might not know is that by not vaccinating against the flu each season, you could potentially be putting others at risk. 

To help dispel some of the myths and misconceptions about the flu and the shot, we've put together all the questions you might be thinking right now.

What is the flu exactly? Isn't just a bad cold?

Influenza, or 'the flu', is a respiratory illness that occurs when the influenza virus infects the body. Despite having similar symptoms to the common cold and other viruses, it can usually be differentiated from them due to the severity of the symptoms.

While the common cold may leave you feeling about 60 per cent of your regular self (not a scientific estimate, btw), the flu might have you burning up, feeling sore all over and very fatigued.

I'm young and healthy, do I really need a shot?

Well, we're all young and healthy until we get the flu. It's true that most of us (aka those over the age of five and under 65) will get pretty sick for a few days and not quite feel 100 per cent for a week or so after, but not everyone has a trouble-free time. The flu is said to be the cause of more than 5,000 hospitalisations around Australia each year, resulting in about 100 deaths.

2017, however, was a particularly deadly year. Around 1,000 people died from the flu; 90 per cent of them over the age of 65.

There is also a concept called 'herd immunity' which applies here as well. The idea is that viruses need hosts (like human bodies) to survive and when everyone is immune then the virus has nowhere left to spread. Herd immunity obviously works best when most of the herd (us) are immune.

Virus vaccinations help to spread this immunity, and while they're not going to definitely stop the flu, they definitely limit the chance and the severity of it.

What if I don't get the shot?

Your chance of getting the flu will rise and you're more likely to pass it on to other unvaccinated people. Maybe you're visiting your elderly relatives or perhaps, you're just on public transport and you unwittingly leave your infected germs behind for someone else to pick up.

People carrying the virus might not show symptoms for 24 hours once they've been infected and will still be contagious for one week after symptoms have stopped showing, so it's pretty tricky not infecting everyone around you.

When should I get the shot?

Professional opinion seems to be a bit split on this one. The Australian Medical Association told the Sydney Morning Herald that the best time for those who aren't eligible for free shots is late April and early May. This is because the effectiveness of the vaccine wears off as the winter months go on.

But if you got in early, as was suggested by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, your immunity might begin to wane after a few months. This is important to realise as last year's flu incidence was still strong going into September, early Spring. If you already got an early shot, it's best to consult your doctor on what to do.

So, where do I need to go to get it?

Now that you've realised getting flu vaccinations might be a good idea, you're probably wondering whether you have to make the trip to the doctor. The good news is your local GP isn't the only place to get the shot (though, it might be the cheapest).

Certified chemists around Australia are also authorised to administer flu vaccines if you'd prefer to get one from your local shopping centre instead. Let's go, herd!

The writers at Student Edge are not medical professionals and recommend consulting your doctor if you have any existing medical conditions or are unsure.

Photo: iStock.com/scyther5