How to Fight the Flu This Year - ConsumerReports.org

The nasal spray FluMist, delivered by a quick spray in the nose, has been the recent vaccination of choice for many kids. But it should not be used this flu season because it has not protected against the flu as well as standard flu shots for the past three years, according to a committee of experts that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Instead, opt for a standard flu shot, which was 63 percent effective at preventing the flu in children last year, according to the CDC.

People age 18 to 64 who find injections uncomfortable can ask about getting the vaccine with a smaller needle that only pierces the skin—the traditional shot is injected into the muscle, which can be more painful.

If you are 65 or older, ask your doctor whether you’d benefit from a high-dose vaccine (Fluzone High-Dose), which is four times stronger, or the adjuvanted vaccine (Fluad), which has an additive designed to elicit a more robust immune reaction. As you age, your immune system may become less responsive, and studies show that both of these vaccines are better at preventing flu in this age group than standard flu shots. But research is stronger for the high-dose shot, says William Schaffner, M.D., professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.