It's not too soon to get your flu shot
Reporter: Craig Smith
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - A child in Maricopa County died of the flu in August.
That brings home a life saving point: even though it is still summer, it's not too soon to think about getting a flu shot.
Most people won't give flu a second thought until it's winter, but it's around year round and now's actually a prime time to get your flu shot.
Arizona has had four flu cases in what's called the summer surveillance period: one case was in Mohave county. The other three were in Maricopa. They included one child who died.
Pima county's chief medical officer Dr Michelle McDonald says there are probably more summer flu cases that go undiagnosed because patients and even some doctors tend to forget flu is still a possibility in the summer.
Doctor Mc Donald says this year's vaccine is the same as last years but your immunity from last year's shot will wear off. New shots are already becoming available so it makes sense to get flu shots early.
KGUN 9 reporter Craig Smith asked Dr. McDonald: "If the immunity from the vaccine fades over time is there such a thing as getting it too soon?"
Dr. Mc Donald says "No, its not going to fade in that short a period of time in the sense that if you get it in September and five months from now is our peak it'll still be good."
It usually takes two weeks to develop immunity after a flu shot.
Vaccine supplies are starting to come in so you can just check with your usual providers.
Dr. McDonald says anyone more than six months old should get shots.
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