It was only a year ago when Americans were scurrying to find flu shots to protect against the H1N1 pandemic flu, or swine flu. A record number of Americans were vaccinated in the last part of 2009 and first few months of this year. And since H1N1 is thought to be a predominant flu threat again this year, people might naturally wonder: Do I need a flu shot this season?
The answer is yes. The vaccine you received last year protects against flu for about six to eight months. The immunity from your last shot last winter has already worn off, according to an official from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Moreover, even if you don't think you'll get very sick from catching the flu, getting the vaccine helps confer "herd immunity." That means that the more people who are vaccinated, the less the flu will circulate and the lower the odds that people who can get very ill -- such as babies or the elderly -- will catch it.
