On flu vaccine calls over the years with CDC the time they usually cite is 6 months. Carolyn Bridges from CDC is a great expert in this area and will know the details, so I’ve copied her.

 

Thank you in advance Carolyn.

 

Warner

 

T. Warner Hudson, MD FACOEM, FAAFP

Medical Director, Occupational and Employee Health

UCLA Health System and Campus

Office 310.825.9146

Fax 310.206.4585

Pager 800.233.7231  ID 27132

E-mail twhudson@mednet.ucla.edu

Website www.ohs.uclahealth.org

 

From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces@mylist.net] On Behalf Of Abhijay Karandikar via MCOH-EH
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 9:59 AM
To: MCOH/EH
Cc: Abhijay Karandikar
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] Duration of protection from the flu vaccine

 

List,

 

Some employees routinely delay receiving the flu vaccine because they have heard that "the flu shot loses its effectiveness in 3 months", so the later it is taken in the season, the better chances of protection in the months of February and March.

 

Literature search reveals that antibody levels / vaccine effectiveness declines with time, but the time period is dependent on many factors including immunity levels, age group, etc.

 

Does anyone have or can anyone point out to studies/abstracts or cite anecdotal evidence of flu vaccine effectiveness with time? How do you decide flu vaccine deadlines for your organization?

 

Thanks,

 

 

 

Abhijay Karandikar, MD, MPH, FACOEM

Medical Director - Occupational Medicine

CONNcare / Backus Hospital

Norwich, CT.



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