neal.mcnamara@heraldbulletin.com

If you think that by getting your flu shot early this year you were being clever, think again.

Health professionals and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning that people who get early flu shots — in late summer — may be more susceptible to the virus later on during flu season.

According to Dr. Charles Purdy, an associate doctor at Saint John’s Medical Center, said that big-name retailers began selling flu shots in later summer. People taking advantage of that — perhaps scared that there might be a vaccine shortage — may have dulled their immunity.

“The concern has been with people who get (their flu shot) too early, and are not going to get as much antibody protection as late as March and April,” said Purdy.

Purdy said that he’s seen more people coming down with flu, both at Saint John’s and in his private practice, during the later parts of flu season.

The peak of flu season in Indiana is around February, according to the Madison County Health Department. The CDC recommends that people get their vaccinations in October and November, and December at the latest.

Both Purdy and Health Department information officer Kellie J. Kelley said there is no shortage of flu vaccine for this upcoming flu season.

“The community should be assured that there’s plenty of flu vaccine this year,” said Purdy.

Kellie also warned against confusing regular season flu with pandemic influenza. Flu vaccines are given to prevent regular seasonal flu. In the case of a pandemic, an influenza vaccine would have to be developed. Kellie said the public should not mistake the traditional flu for influenza.

“Because of all the media attention given to pandemic influenza, we sometimes forget what seasonal flu is and how to identify it,” said Kellie.

Purdy recommended another vaccine, Pneumovax, which guards against pneumonia. Purdy said that adults over 65 who received the vaccine five years ago should think about getting it again. Purdy said that pneumonia season is year-round, but that in winter people congregate in confined places, making virus outbreaks more common.

The Health Department is having a flu shot session from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Nov. 7 at the Anderson Public Library. The session is for people of all ages and costs $20, but no one will be turned away, said Kellie.

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