Too Late for a Flu Shot? No, and Here's Why

Reports have been circulating about the severity of the 2012-13 flu season, with 47 states, including Florida, documenting widespread outbreaks. Co-workers are falling ill, then reporting back to work with tales of their illnesses and it's not a pretty story.

You find yourself weighing the pros and cons of flu shots, doing your research, and you make your decision to go for it. But is it too late? Has the supply dwindled? Where should you go to get your flu shot?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which offers a comprehensive 2012-2013 Flu Season Questions & Answers Web site, it's not too late to get your flu shot, but availability is becoming strained.

• You also can get information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at Flu.gov. There, health officials recommend: "Everyone six months of age and older needs a flu shot."

CDC "recommends that people get vaccinated against influenza as long as influenza viruses are cirulating," according to the Web site. "Influenza seasons are unpredictable and can begin as early as October, and substantial activity can occur as late as May."

Additional questions answered on topic include:

• Should I still get vaccinated even if I have already gotten sick with the flu?

• Can I get vaccinated and still get influenza?

• Has CDC received reports of people who have gotten a flu vaccine andthen tested positive for influenza?

Answers to these and 25 other questions are posted online.

One such question involves whether the vaccine still is available. CDC answers:

"For the 2012-2013 season manufacturers projected that they would produce about 135 million doses of flu vaccine. As of January 4, 2013, more than 128 million doses had been distributed. (During 2011-2012, 132.8 million doses of flu vaccine were distributed in the United States.)

"At this time, some vaccine providers may have exhausted their vaccine supplies, while others may have remaining supplies of vaccine. People seeking vaccination may need to call more than one provider to locate vaccine. The flu vaccine locator may be helpful.

"Flu vaccine is produced by private manufacturers, so availability depends on when production is completed. Information about the number of seasonal influenza vaccine doses distributed this season is available at Seasonal Influenza Vaccine & Total Doses Distributed.

"For the 2012-2013 season manufacturers projected that they would produce about 135 million doses of flu vaccine. As of January 4, 2013, more than 128 million doses had been distributed. (During 2011-2012, 132.8 million doses of flu vaccine were distributed in the United States.)

"At this time, some vaccine providers may have exhausted their vaccine supplies, while others may have remaining supplies of vaccine. People seeking vaccination may need to call more than one provider to locate vaccine. The flu vaccine locator may be helpful."

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Where Can I Find a Flu Vaccine?

The flu vaccine locator noted above officially is called the HealthMap Vaccine Finder.

• Link through and enter your address or ZIP code. An easy to use map is shown, indexed to the places where flu vaccines are or have been available. Addresses and phone numbers are provided. Call ahead to see if the vaccine, and what type of vaccine, is available.

• You can search the finder according to flu vaccine options. the options are: Flu Shot, Intradermal Flu Shot, High-Dose Flu Shot and Flu Nasal Spray. 

• Remember, too, you can always contact your physician's office to get a flu shot as well.

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Have you had the flu? How bad was it? Have you had your flu shot? If not, why not? Let us know in the comment box below.

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