HOUSTON – Even though temperatures are still in the 90s, flu season officially kicks off Oct. 1.
This is only the fourth time in 25 years the strains are exactly the same as the year before, but doctors are still urging everyone to get vaccinated.
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Even if you got the shot last year, research shows your immunity can drop by as much as 50 percent six months to a year later.
The ultimate lazy man's vaccination is at HealthOne 24-Hour Emergency Care's West Campus located at 5510 West Grand Parkway South in Richmond. It is hosting a drive-through vaccination clinic from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 1. Shots are available to people age 9 and over and cost $10.
Dr. Melissa Pope told KPRC Local 2, "It's extremely convenient for people, and that was our idea ... to promote awareness of flu vaccination so everyone knows it's important to get it, and make it as easy for our patient population."
At Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, the first shipments of the brand new Intradermal shots are in. It's a smaller dose that's just as effective, but at less than a tenth of an inch long, feels more like a mosquito bite.
Dr. Melanie Mouzoon, managing physician for immunization practices and travel medicine explained, "Instead of going into the muscle of your arm, it'll just go under the skin."
That type of shot is only available for adults.
FluMist is the nasal vaccine made with a live, but weakened, virus approved for healthy 2- to 50-year-olds.
"That vaccine has been shown to be more affective in protecting against drifted or changed strains of flu vaccine than the shot, however, particularly in children," Mouzoon said.
The special high dose shot is four times stronger than the traditional dose and it's given to those over 65.
Most popular, of course, is the standard, killed-virus flu shot recommended for most people with few expectations.
"If you have an allergy to chicken eggs for example, you should not get the flu vaccine. But, most people from 6 months on are good candidates for flu vaccination," Pope said.
Pregnant and nursing women are also encouraged to get vaccinated.
Immunity kicks in about two weeks afterward.