TORONTO - Experts suggest people who are planning to travel to the southern hemisphere during that part of the world's winter should consider getting a flu shot now.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control is recommending flu shots for people who will be travelling to the southern hemisphere or the tropics over the coming months if they didn't get a flu shot last fall.
The agency says this year's southern hemisphere shot contains the same strains that were included in the northern hemisphere shot for the 2008-2009 winter, so the northern hemisphere shot should offer good protection.
Flu season in the southern hemisphere runs from April through September, and in the tropics flu viruses circulate year-round.
A travel medicine expert with the CDC says even if people aren't planning to leave until our summer, they should try to get a shot now.
Dr. Nina Marano says that's because with flu season ending here, fewer doctors will still have supplies on hand.
"It does vary by practice," Marano says.
"And so to save themselves some disappointment, definitely (do) two things," Marano advises travellers. "Call ahead. And definitely if they are aware that they're going to do some summer travel (to the southern hemisphere), now is the time to be calling."
"Because if they wait till June ... they will run into a problem."
In addition to the fact that supplies may be scarce, there is the issue of the best-before date.
Vaccine vials are stamped with expiration dates, after which doctors should not administer the product. The date would depend on the manufacturer and when the vaccine rolled off the production line. But generally speaking, that date could be May 31 or June 30.
The panel of Canadian experts that issues medical advice to travellers also recommends flu shots for people travelling to parts of the world during the destination's flu season.
That group, which goes by the acronym CATMAT (the committee to advise on tropical medicine and travel), recommends that Canadians either get a flu shot before they leave -- if they can find vaccine -- or consider getting a shot when they arrive at their destination.
The CDC advice only pertains to people who didn't get a flu shot last fall to protect them for the winter of 2008-2009.
While it is unclear how long the protection of a flu shot lasts -- and it's likely that duration varies depending on the age and health status of the recipient -- the CDC believes people who were vaccinated last fall would not get added benefit from getting a second shot now, Marano says.
