As flu season ramps up, Dr. Wesley Long, a pathologist and medical director of the Diagnostic Microbiology Laboratory at Houston Methodist, is available to answer questions about the flu, including symptoms, vaccinations and how to keep oneself and others safe.

 

Question: How severe is this year’s flu season compared to previous years, and what should people be thinking about as we enter flu season?

 

Dr. Wesley Long: We’re just at the beginning of flu season, so it’s too early to say how severe it will be compared to previous years. Flu activity typically increases in the fall – usually around October or November in our area of the country – and peaks between December and February, tapering off by March or April.

 

Right now, flu cases are still relatively low but beginning to rise. That’s why we recommend getting vaccinated in the fall. I usually suggest getting the flu shot in early to mid-October – think college football season or around the time of the State Fair of Texas. It gives your body time to build immunity before peak season hits.

 

Question: What are the biggest myths about the flu and the flu vaccine?

 

Dr. Long: The most common myth is that the flu shot can give you the flu. That’s simply not true. The vaccine injections contain inactivated virus or just pieces of the virus – not live virus – so it can’t cause infection. There is a nasal spray influenza vaccine that does use a live attenuated (weakened) virus. In that case the virus has been weakened significantly and will not cause the full clinical syndrome of influenza.

 

I like to use a hamburger analogy: the flu shot is like giving your immune system a hamburger bun. It helps your body recognize what a hamburger – the flu – looks like. But just the buns won’t give you the full hamburger experience, and the flu shot won’t give you the flu.

 

Some people may feel a bit under the weather after getting vaccinated, but that’s just the immune system reacting and building protection. It’s usually mild and short-lived. Also, because flu season overlaps with other respiratory viruses like RSV, common cold viruses or COVID-19, a person may contract a different respiratory illness picked up around the same time as their flu shot.

 

Question: Can healthy young people skip the flu shot since they’re not high risk?

 

Dr. Long: That’s another common misconception. While older adults and people with chronic illnesses are at higher risk of severe outcomes from flu, influenza can cause severe illness or even death in healthy young adults. So yes, even healthy individuals should get vaccinated.

 

Question: What’s new or different about this year’s flu vaccines? And how should people choose the right one?

 

Dr. Long: Each year’s flu vaccine is updated to match circulating strains from the previous season. So even if the type of vaccine stays the same, the composition can change every year. Some years it may not change much, but our immunity from the shot wanes over the course of a year so you should still get a flu shot annually.

 

There are several types of flu vaccines available:

 

  • Standard flu shot: The most common. Contains inactivated virus or virus parts and is safe for most people.
  • FluMist (nasal spray): A live attenuated vaccine approved for people ages 2 to 49 who are not pregnant, immunocompromised or affected by certain conditions such as asthma or a cerebrospinal fluid leak.
  • High-dose or adjuvanted vaccines: Recommended for people age 65 and older to help boost immune response and increase effectiveness in this population since our immune systems weaken as we age.
  • Egg-free vaccine options are available for those with egg allergies.

 

The best approach is to talk to your doctor about your age, health status and any allergies to determine the best option.


Q: How can people tell the difference between flu, COVID-19 and RSV?

 

Dr. Long: It can be tough – they all cause similar symptoms like fever, cough, fatigue and body aches. But there are some subtle differences:

 

  • Flu: Often hits suddenly with high fever, chills and body aches. It feels like you’ve been hit by a truck – very sudden onset where you tend to go from feeling fine to feeling very sick.
  • RSV: In healthy adults, one unique aspect is that after the initial illness it can sometimes cause a lingering cough that can last for weeks.
  • COVID-19: Varies widely but can include loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion and fatigue.

Testing is important because we now have antiviral treatments for both flu and COVID-19 – but they’re different drugs, so you need the right diagnosis to be treated effectively. There are even combo home tests that check for both flu and COVID-19.

 

Q: How can families protect vulnerable members during flu season?

 

Dr. Long: The best protection for everyone – especially young children, older adults and people with chronic illnesses – is getting the flu vaccine if they are eligible. And that includes everyone in the household. If you’re vaccinated, you’re not only protecting yourself but also helping shield others who may be more vulnerable.

 

Other helpful steps can include:

 

  • Wearing masks in crowded or indoor spaces
  • Avoiding large gatherings during peak flu season
  • Staying home when sick
  • Isolating in a separate room if someone in your home gets sick

 

Around one in 15 people in the U.S. is immunosuppressed for a variety of different reasons – and you might work with or be near someone who is and not even know it. So getting vaccinated is also an act of community care.

 

Q: Any final thoughts or advice on flu season?

 

Dr. Long: The flu vaccine won’t guarantee you won’t get sick, but it significantly reduces your risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death. Even if you do get the flu after being vaccinated, it’s usually much milder and shorter-lived.

 

Take care of yourself and your community – get the shot.

 

For more information or to schedule an interview with Dr. Long, contact Amy McCaig, manager of public relations at Houston Methodist, at 217.417.2901 or almccaig@houstonmethodist.org.

 

More information related to the flu and flu season is available via Houston Methodist’s On Health Blog.