3 Shots Urged for This Flu Season

U.S. health officials want people to get up to three flu shots this year, instead of one. That’s because the shots will have different aims. Persuading people to get all three could be difficult, officials say. The earliest vaccine available will be for seasonal flu. That should be in doctors’ offices starting this month, the New York Times News Service reported August 7. The other two shots will be for swine flu (H1N1 flu). Some of that vaccine may be available in September. But the rest won’t come until late October or November. The two swine flu shots should be given three weeks apart. Pregnant women, children and health care workers are urged to get all three shots. But older adults need only the shot for seasonal flu. They seem to have some immunity to swine flu, health officials say.