Flu Season Has Begun: When Is the Best Time to Get Vaccinated?
Specialist Dr. Süreyya Paksoy from ENTO Surgical ENT Medical Center shared important information about influenza and flu vaccination, emphasizing in particular the importance of vaccinating children in high-risk groups.
“Influenza can have a more severe course in some children. Children, pregnant women, people over the age of 65, individuals with diabetes or asthma, those with chronic conditions affecting the immune system, and people with heart, lung or kidney diseases are at greater risk of complications,” said Dr. Süreyya Paksoy, Specialist in Pediatrics at Private ENTO Ear, Nose and Throat Surgical Medical Center.
Dr. Paksoy noted that influenza can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, middle ear infections, heart failure and brain infections. She also drew attention to the risk of febrile seizures in young children.
PROTECTION BEGINS AFTER TWO WEEKS
Dr. Paksoy stated that protective immunity develops approximately 14 days after the flu vaccine is administered:
“In Türkiye, the flu season generally lasts from the beginning of October until the end of May. However, in recent years, influenza activity has increased particularly toward the end of December and throughout January, with outbreaks usually peaking in January or between late January and early February.
For this reason, I recommend receiving the vaccine toward the end of October or at the beginning of November rather than in September. The vaccine provides its highest level of protection for approximately three months after immunity develops on the 14th day. Protection may gradually decrease in the following months, particularly in children under five and in older adults.
Vaccination at this time helps maintain strong protection until the beginning or middle of February. However, if a laboratory-confirmed influenza case or an officially confirmed case announced by the Ministry of Health is reported, vaccination should be administered without delay.”
Dr. Paksoy emphasized that influenza viruses undergo structural changes every season.
“Seasonal flu vaccines are prepared according to the influenza virus strains expected to circulate during the upcoming season. Therefore, the flu vaccine needs to be renewed every year.
All three virus strains included in this year’s vaccine are new strains that emerged through mutations during the winter and spring of 2025. For this reason, we may see more influenza cases among unvaccinated people this winter compared with previous years.”
Dr. Paksoy added that in recent years, influenza vaccination has been included in routine immunization programs in many countries and is covered by governments.
“The general global approach is to vaccinate all children between 6 months and 5 years of age, as well as children over the age of 5 who have medical conditions that place them in a high-risk group. This is also the approach I recommend.”
She also explained that the flu vaccination schedule for children varies depending on age and whether the child has previously received a flu vaccine.
For children between 6 months and 8 years of age who are receiving the flu vaccine for the first time, two doses are required at least four weeks apart, with the first dose preferably administered before October 15. In subsequent years, a single dose is sufficient.
For children who have reached the age of 9, one dose per flu season is sufficient.
Dr. Paksoy also reminded families that the flu vaccine is not administered to babies under 6 months of age. Vaccinating the mothers, family members and caregivers of these infants is therefore important in helping to protect them from influenza.
