Views from the Shore
Recently, while filling in as a guest host on Newstalk 92.3 FM WOND, I had Dr. Gregory Herman from Shore Physicians Group on the air to talk about flu season. And what he had to say might surprise some of you who think flu shots are only worthwhile early in the fall.
First, let’s clear up something people may not realize: flu vaccines are not “one and done for life.” Influenza viruses change constantly — they mutate and evolve — so the vaccine has to change with them. Each year, scientists around the world monitor flu activity and the genetic makeup of circulating viruses. Using that data, they predict which strains are most likely to be common in the upcoming season and select vaccine components accordingly. In the U.S., the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Food and Drug Administration look at global and domestic surveillance information to decide which viral strains should be included in that season’s flu shot.
The vaccine you get trains your immune system to recognize and fight those specific flu viruses. After your body encounters the vaccine, it produces antibodies — those microscopic defenders that will recognize the real virus and help prevent infection or lessen the severity of illness. But that takes time: typically about a week or two after vaccination before meaningful protection develops.
That’s one reason Dr. Herman stresses it’s not too late to get vaccinated even as flu activity rises. People often dismiss the idea once winter is here, yet flu activity can continue through the spring. And while no flu shot is 100 % effective, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says when the vaccine strains are well matched to the viruses circulating in the community, vaccination can significantly reduce your risk of getting sick — and of spreading the virus to others.
During our conversation on the radio, Dr. Herman shared an eye-opening statistic: he’s seen about 40% of his patients so far this season say they haven’t gotten a flu shot. In past years that figure was closer to 25%. Fewer vaccinated people means more opportunities for the virus to spread — and more serious illness for the most vulnerable among us.
So why does the flu shot need updating each year? Influenza viruses are constantly drifting — tiny changes in the virus’s surface proteins mean last year’s immune memory may not recognize this year’s virus as well. That’s why seasonal flu vaccines are reformulated annually to include the strains experts believe will be most common.
Even if you’ve delayed until now, the shot can still help protect you — your immune system is like a well-trained team that just needs the right playbook. And the sooner you give it that playbook, the better prepared it can be if you encounter the virus. Dr. Herman reminded listeners that even partial protection can make a big difference: fewer symptoms, fewer doctor visits, and — importantly — less risk of spreading flu to family, friends, and neighbors.
The flu shot is one of the simplest, most effective tools we have to stay healthy during flu season. It’s not too late to get yours — and it might be one of the smartest health decisions you make this winter.
Brian Cahill is the Director of Marketing for Shore Medical Center. He is also on the Board of the Somers Point Business Association, an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at Stockton University, and is a founding member of Somers Point-Community First, a local volunteer organization
