Schools have opened, complaints have increased: The ideal time for the flu vaccine
As complaints of sore throat, fever, fatigue, and cough increase in outpatient clinics, experts point to October and November as the ideal months for the flu vaccine.
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With the drop in air temperatures and the opening of schools, there has been an increase in hospital visits for flu and respiratory tract infections. Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Songül Özer stated that complaints of nausea, sore throat, high fever, fatigue, joint pain, cough, and occasional phlegm production are being seen more frequently in outpatient clinics.
The increase in indoor and crowded environments during the autumn season facilitates the spread of respiratory tract infections. In this process, the timing of the influenza vaccine has also come to the agenda again. Özer said that the ideal vaccination period for the 2026-2027 flu season is October and November.
Emphasizing that the flu vaccine only provides protection against the influenza virus, Özer stated that the vaccine does not provide direct protection against Covid-19, RSV, or other respiratory tract agents. She reminded that there are different vaccines available for RSV and some other respiratory pathogens.
WHO IS THE FLU VACCINE RECOMMENDED FOR?
According to Dr. Özer, the influenza vaccine to be administered in the 2026-2027 season includes H3N2 and H1N1 strains. When determining the vaccine content, the virus strains that were most common and caused severe illness in the previous season are taken into account; it is stated that more space was given to H3N2 subgroups this year.
The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone over 6 months of age. However, it is particularly important for those living in crowded environments, children in daycare and boarding schools, teachers, military personnel, those over 65, and those with chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, heart failure, and kidney failure to be vaccinated.
Özer stated that a single dose of the vaccine is sufficient for most age groups, and that more than one dose may be required in some special cases and immunodeficiencies. It is recommended that the flu vaccine not be administered to infants under 6 months old and those in the first 3 months of pregnancy unless necessary.
The Social Security Institution (SGK) covers the cost of the flu vaccine for certain risk groups. Those with underlying diseases such as heart disease, COPD, lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney failure; those over 65, those living in nursing homes or care homes, and those in the period after the first three months of pregnancy are considered within this scope. Citizens can check their risk status in the “Influenza (Flu) Risk Status” section on e-Nabız.
The protective effect of the vaccine begins approximately 2-3 weeks after administration and lasts for 6-8 months. Özer stated that the protective efficacy of the flu vaccine is around 60-65 percent and that it can be administered on the same day as the pneumonia vaccine using different syringes and in different parts of the body.
The most common side effects after vaccination include redness, pain, swelling, and tenderness at the injection site, as well as fatigue, malaise, and headache. Stating that there is no live virus in the vaccine, Özer said, “it is impossible to develop the flu due to the vaccine.”
Evaluating the situation for those with egg allergies, Özer stated that except for people with very severe egg allergies, the vaccine can be administered in a controlled manner to those with mild or moderate allergies.