 what you should know about flu vaccines what you should know about flu vaccines when should i get a flu shot and how long does it last  everyone aged 6 months and older should have a flu vaccination once a year to help protect them against the flu virus there are several factors you should consider when deciding the best time to get vaccinated as with all personal medical decisions you should speak to your gp or pharmacist about what is right for you you can catch the flu at any time of the year though the peak flu season is typically around august because the flu shot is most effective for 3 to 4 months following vaccination getting vaccinated in april may give you maximum protection during the predicted peak of the season however since the start end and peak of the flu season can be unpredictable and vary each year it may be advisable to get vaccinated as soon as flu vaccines become available typically midlate march because available vaccines may be updated to offer protection against the flu strains in circulation and also since protection provided by flu vaccines decreases over time it s recommended to be revaccinated every year when are flu vaccines available  typically the current year s flu vaccine starts to become available from midlate march your gp or pharmacist can advise you when to come in to get your flu shot for a given year where can i get the flu vaccine  you can ask your gp or a local pharmacist for a flu shot vaccinations are also offered at travel medicine clinics public hospitals staff occupational health clinics aged care facilities and certain workplaces can a flu vaccine give me the flu  you cannot get the flu from a flu shot this is because all flu vaccines used in australia are inactivated which means they do not contain the live flu virus so you can t catch the flu from the vaccine how safe are flu vaccines  vaccines are rigorously tested and monitored for safety millions of vaccinations are given each year and severe adverse reactions are infrequent most sideeffects from the flu vaccine are mild and last up to one or two days they may include pain redness swelling or hardness at the injection site fever tiredness body aches these may feel similar to flu symptoms but they are not the flu there are other risks that are rare and manageable such as a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis it is important to tell the person administering your vaccine about any severe allergic reactions you have had to medicines and if you have previously experienced guillainbarre syndrome also tell them if you are feeling unwell your health care provider will monitor you for 15 minutes after your flu shot and will have first aid treatment if you experience an allergic reaction don t hesitate to ask your health care professional for advice if you are concerned about a sideeffect from any medicine including your flu shot how does the flu vaccine work what does it do to your body  flu vaccines are designed to help your body to create antibodies that help your immune system protect you from the flu or reduce the severity of your symptoms if you become infected in australia recommendations for which flu strains to include in the vaccine are made every year by the australian influenza vaccine committee to make their decision the experts on this committee review which strains have been recently circulating can i have the flu vaccine while pregnant  as with all personal medical decisions you should speak to your gp or pharmacist about what is right for you however in australia flu vaccines are strongly recommended for pregnant women and are funded under the national immunisation program women can receive the flu vaccine during any stage of pregnancy should i get a flu shot  the australian immunisation handbook issued by the department of health recommends that everyone older than 6 months of age get vaccinated against the flu every year vaccination against the flu can reduce your chance of getting the flu or the severity of symptoms if you do get it as with all personal medical decisions you should speak to your gp or pharmacist who will be able to give information specific to your circumstances to assist you in making a decision about flu vaccines and how best to protect yourself against the flu summary vaccination is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of the flu however there are other things you can also do to help reduce your risk  talk to your gp or pharmacist about flu vaccines and how you can protect yourself against the flu healthy fri 10072022 1232  