When is the right month to get the Influenza Vaccination in Chiang Mai…?

[mikey88]

Hello,.

Is there a ‘right’ time to get the Influenza Vaccination in Chiang Mai…?

When does the flu season start…?

Thanks in advance…

[CMBob]

I asked that very question last week and was told that the flu season here is "now"; as such, I went and got a flu shot this past Friday.

[Gottfrid]

July

[Scott]

I was told by doctor some years back that the flu season in Thailand coincides with the rainy season and so he used to have me get it in May or June.   It depended on the availability.  

 

He also said that Thailand was a little ahead of the curve because the flu usually was the same strain as what had already gone through the winter surge in Western Countries like the US and Europe.   They were able to tweak the vaccines to cover the strain in S.E. Asia.  

 

The flu can extend well into the cool season, though.

 

[jossthaifarang]

14th month of the year would be about right. The immune system works all year round mate.

[nigelforbes]

6 hours ago, Scott said:

I was told by doctor some years back that the flu season in Thailand coincides with the rainy season and so he used to have me get it in May or June.   It depended on the availability.  

 

He also said that Thailand was a little ahead of the curve because the flu usually was the same strain as what had already gone through the winter surge in Western Countries like the US and Europe.   They were able to tweak the vaccines to cover the strain in S.E. Asia.  

 

The flu can extend well into the cool season, though.

 

I don't believe that's correct. The flue season in Asia is November through March, the ideal time to get the flu vaccine in Thailand is September. The vaccine we receive here is based on the flu virus that has circulated in the Southern Hemisphere between the preceding May and July. Flu season in the West is between December and March, the vaccine administered there is updated to include the mutations that have occurred in Asia previously. The entire process starts in the southern hemisphere, not in the West and not here.

[StevieAus]

20 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

I don't believe that's correct. The flue season in Asia is November through March, the ideal time to get the flu vaccine in Thailand is September. The vaccine we receive here is based on the flu virus that has circulated in the Southern Hemisphere between the preceding May and July. Flu season in the West is between December and March, the vaccine administered there is updated to include the mutations that have occurred in Asia previously. The entire process starts in the southern hemisphere, not in the West and not here.

The advice I received from two different sources including Chiang Mai Ram Hospital was the same as stated by Scott above.

[nigelforbes]

5 minutes ago, StevieAus said:

The advice I received from two different sources including Chiang Mai Ram Hospital was the same as stated by Scott above.

Aetna says: In the Northern Hemisphere, flu season usually starts in October and peaks in December before ending in March, but in the Southern Hemisphere, it lasts from June to September. 

 

https://www.aetna.co.th/en/whats-new/blogs/10-tips-to-prevent-and-manage-flu-and-other-seasonal-viruses

 

Confusing and conflicting information from different sources.

[paulbrow]

Got mine a month ago.

[nigelforbes]

Just now, paulbrow said:

Got mine a month ago.

Me too.

[nigelforbes]

The WHO says, people in Thailand should be vaccinated against the flu between May and September. NOTE ALSO: the vaccine type is Southern Hemisphere, this is because there are two flu seasons globally, one in the North and one in the South, the latter predates the former. 

 

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/340610/Influenza-Thailand-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

[placnx]

Unfortunately, hospitals give conflicting advice as to optimal timing. Is it rainy season or January-June?

"For Thailand, an expert recommends that people get the vaccine during January – June."

https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/content/influenza-can-prevented-by-vaccination

 

Apparently, in the case of the Southern Hemisphere vaccine, the vaccine is "now" until 31 December.

https://www.phukethospital.com/package/influenza-vaccine-with-4-strains-the-2022-southern-hemisphere/

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/packages/flu-shot

https://bewell.co.th/influenza-vaccine-2022/ (see WHO vaccine table at bottom of page - may be outdated)

WHO's current vaccine compositions:

Northern: https://www.who.int/news/item/25-02-2022-recommendations-announced-for-influenza-vaccine-composition-for-the-2022-2023-northern-hemisphere-influenza-season

Southern: https://www.who.int/news/item/23-09-2022-new-recommendations-for-the-composition-of-influenza-vaccines-in-2023-for-the-southern-hemisphere

When will the new Southern be available? Does it alternate here seasonally with the Northern composition?

[nigelforbes]

8 minutes ago, placnx said:

Unfortunately, hospitals give conflicting advice as to optimal timing. Is it rainy season or January-June?

"For Thailand, an expert recommends that people get the vaccine during January – June."

https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/content/influenza-can-prevented-by-vaccination

 

Apparently, in the case of the Southern Hemisphere vaccine, the vaccine is "now" until 31 December.

https://www.phukethospital.com/package/influenza-vaccine-with-4-strains-the-2022-southern-hemisphere/

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/packages/flu-shot

https://bewell.co.th/influenza-vaccine-2022/ (see WHO vaccine table at bottom of page - may be outdated)

WHO's current vaccine compositions:

Northern: https://www.who.int/news/item/25-02-2022-recommendations-announced-for-influenza-vaccine-composition-for-the-2022-2023-northern-hemisphere-influenza-season

Southern: https://www.who.int/news/item/23-09-2022-new-recommendations-for-the-composition-of-influenza-vaccines-in-2023-for-the-southern-hemisphere

When will the new Southern be available? Does it alternate here seasonally with the Northern composition?

I don't know the answer but what I have learned from researching this thread is that two flue shots a year is optimal, one to coincide with the Northern Hemisphere flu season and one for the South.

[StevieAus]

4 hours ago, nigelforbes said:

Aetna says: In the Northern Hemisphere, flu season usually starts in October and peaks in December before ending in March, but in the Southern Hemisphere, it lasts from June to September. 

 

https://www.aetna.co.th/en/whats-new/blogs/10-tips-to-prevent-and-manage-flu-and-other-seasonal-viruses

 

Confusing and conflicting information from different sources.

Exactly and even though  I have had flu vaccines for more years than I can remember a couple of years ago I contracted Influenza A here in January turning into pneumonia so maybe your information is correct.

[MrJ2U]

5 hours ago, jossthaifarang said:

14th month of the year would be about right. The immune system works all year round mate.

Ridiculous.

 

 

[siftasam]

i had mine at BKK hospital in CM in June on its reminder to me. 

 

Written instruction is: "The best time to get vaccinated is before the rainy season or around May and before the winter or around October."

[nigelforbes]

6 minutes ago, siftasam said:

i had mine at BKK hospital in CM in June on its reminder to me. 

 

Written instruction is: "The best time to get vaccinated is before the rainy season or around May and before the winter or around October."

Which seems to confirm the need to be vaccinated twice (and before...).

 

SO everyone is right, wheeee.

[siftasam]

Never had two in one year. I think BKK hospital cannot express itself totally clearly and grammatically.

[worgeordie]

My wife was called into hospital 6 weeks ago to get flu vaccine,

in 35 years living here never had flu vaccine and never had the

flu , lucky ? , have had 4 Covid vaccines in 18 months ,and at the

moment have Covid ,but not so bad,

 

regards Worgeordie

[ThailandRyan]

8 hours ago, nigelforbes said:

I don't believe that's correct. The flue season in Asia is November through March, the ideal time to get the flu vaccine in Thailand is September. The vaccine we receive here is based on the flu virus that has circulated in the Southern Hemisphere between the preceding May and July. Flu season in the West is between December and March, the vaccine administered there is updated to include the mutations that have occurred in Asia previously. The entire process starts in the southern hemisphere, not in the West and not here.

Wrong Sir.  My Endocrinologist always has me given the Flu vaccination in July during my visit. It has been that way for the past 5 years here  In the US I would always obtain my Flu Vaccination in October. 

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/health-blog/june-2015/thailand-flu-season-treatment-care-bangkok-jci-best-hospital

 

For the west here is a CDC post

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season.htm

While seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round in the United States, flu viruses typically circulate during the fall and winter during what’s known as the flu season. The exact timing and duration of flu seasons varies, but flu activity often begins to increase in October. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although significant activity can last as late as May. Since the start of the COVID pandemic, the timing and duration of flu activity has been less predictable.

 

Thailand’s flu season usually coincides with its wet season, which generally takes place between June and October each year. Keep yourself and loved ones healthy this flu season, whether you live in Thailand or are simply traveling through, with these simple tips.

 

Here is an article which was posted in May

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailands-health-officials-say-flu-shots-available-for-36-of-vulnerable-people

[placnx]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

Wrong Sir.  My Endocrinologist always has me given the Flu vaccination in July during my visit. It has been that way for the past 5 years here  In the US I would always obtain my Flu Vaccination in October. 

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/health-blog/june-2015/thailand-flu-season-treatment-care-bangkok-jci-best-hospital

 

For the west here is a CDC post

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season.htm

While seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round in the United States, flu viruses typically circulate during the fall and winter during what’s known as the flu season. The exact timing and duration of flu seasons varies, but flu activity often begins to increase in October. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although significant activity can last as late as May. Since the start of the COVID pandemic, the timing and duration of flu activity has been less predictable.

 

Thailand’s flu season usually coincides with its wet season, which generally takes place between June and October each year. Keep yourself and loved ones healthy this flu season, whether you live in Thailand or are simply traveling through, with these simple tips.

 

Here is an article which was posted in May

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailands-health-officials-say-flu-shots-available-for-36-of-vulnerable-people

Maybe it's good if someone could find out when the latest vaccine versions are distributed, assuming that both the Northern and Southern are available here at different times. Otherwise one could end up at the tail end of a vaccine version's usefulness.

[Scott]

Part of the push to get people vaccinated for influenza is because of the low level of infection during Covid.  For those who had influenza prior to Covid or were vaccinated, there is some residual immunity that helps well into the next flu season.   Without being vaccinated or infection, a lot of people are going to be left with virtually no influenza-specific immunity cells.  That means, we are more easily infected and run the risk of getting sicker.  

 

The other factor to remember is that many of us are getting older and running into the time when the immune system is slowing down and not as efficient as it was a few years back.  

 

[nigelforbes]

2 hours ago, placnx said:

Maybe it's good if someone could find out when the latest vaccine versions are distributed, assuming that both the Northern and Southern are available here at different times. Otherwise one could end up at the tail end of a vaccine version's usefulness.

I recently read that Type A is now circulating which makes getting both shots sensible.

[Sparktrader]

13 hours ago, jossthaifarang said:

14th month of the year would be about right. The immune system works all year round mate.

CM is hot 10 months and warm 2 months.

 

Flus are a cold weather thing.

[nigelforbes]

5 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

CM is hot 10 months and warm 2 months.

 

Flus are a cold weather thing.

The graphs on page 115 show that a majority of cases occur between June and October and that the peak is around August. But this is just for Type C and doesn't mention other strains.

 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242396924_Analysis_of_Influenza_Cases_and_Seasonal_Index_in_Thailand

[ThailandRyan]

2 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

The graphs on page 115 show that a majority of cases occur between June and October and that the peak is around August. But this is just for Type C and doesn't mention other strains.

 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242396924_Analysis_of_Influenza_Cases_and_Seasonal_Index_in_Thailand

Flu unfortunately can be caught anytime during the year, but the majority of cases are as my links I posted above show.

[Sparktrader]

3 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

The graphs on page 115 show that a majority of cases occur between June and October and that the peak is around August. But this is just for Type C and doesn't mention other strains.

 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242396924_Analysis_of_Influenza_Cases_and_Seasonal_Index_in_Thailand

I dont get sick anymore. I take magnesium power daily.

[Fairynuff]

On 10/11/2022 at 2:35 AM, jossthaifarang said:

14th month of the year would be about right. The immune system works all year round mate.

Until it doesn’t… and then you get serious flu instead of a mild case if you’ve been jabbed.

[Fairynuff]

18 hours ago, Sparktrader said:

CM is hot 10 months and warm 2 months.

 

Flus are a cold weather thing.

So you’re saying that there’s no flu in Thailand because it’s never cold?

[mikey88]

Thanks for all who replied.

I appreciate it greatly.

So it seems that we don’t really have a guaranteed definitive answer….?

You’d think the Thai Government would publish something….wouldn’t you.

 

The reason I ask ….my partner got Influenza A before Covid and was so sick I thought I might lose them….
Maybe  it’s the years of PM 2.5 damage I don’t know.

But then they got COVID in June and …..still coughing badly some nights.

We’ll get the jab this week anyway….