University Health epidemiologist answers questions about influenza, flu shot

– This year’s flu season started earlier than it typically does and tens of thousands of Texans have already fallen ill.

As cases continue to rise, Dr. Jason Bowling, University Health hospital epidemiologist and associate professor with UT Health SA, answered some commonly asked questions about influenza and the flu vaccine.There are some differences in the molecular structure, but you can get really sick with either strain. The main thing to recognize is that every flu season actually represents several different strains of influenza circulating, which means people can get infected with different strains.

Q: If you get the flu before you get the flu shot, should you still get the shot? How long should you wait?You should still get the flu vaccine even if you’ve had the flu because there are several strains circulating. That’s why there are four different strains in this year’s quadrivalent flu shot. Natural immunity does not provide enough protection to keep you from getting sick with a different strain in the same flu season.

Q: If you’ve been exposed to the flu and haven’t had your shot, should you get it immediately or wait?Exposure is not a good reason to wait. A flu vaccine is not going to prevent you from getting sick if you truly were exposed, but many people are getting exposed right now without knowing it.

It is possible to get viral coinfections with two strains of flu, but usually we see people infected with flu and a non-flu virus at the same time. And you could also get one right after the other.How long you are contagious after first showing symptoms can vary – children and immunocompromised people are going to shed virus longer – but most people are considered contagious to others for about 5-7 days after symptom onset with influenza.

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