Flu Vaccine Found To Be More Effective When Given In Morning | HuffPost

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The Best Time Of Day To Get The Flu Shot

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Flu vaccinations are more effective when given in the morning, according to a new British study. The researchers found that patients' immune systems were capable of producing more antibodies in response to the vaccine in the first part of the day. The study comes as the World Health Organization marks World Immunization Week, April 24-30.

Could picking the right time of day boost the chances of protection from certain viruses when administering vaccinations? Since the body's immune response is known to fluctuate over the course of a day, a team of researchers from the University of Birmingham, U.K., set out to investigate whether this theory could be applied to the body's production of antibodies in response to vaccination.

The scientists monitored 276 adults aged 65 and over being vaccinated against three strains of flu virus. Some were given shots in the morning between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., while others took afternoon slots, between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

One month after vaccination, the group given jabs in the morning showed a significantly larger increase in the concentration of antibodies compared with those vaccinated in the afternoon.

The researchers consider that this free and natural means of potentially improving the protective effect of flu vaccines could offer a more general means of making other types of vaccine more effective.

Following this initial discovery, the team will continue their research with a larger scale study, testing out the theory on a wider range of over 65s, including those with impaired immunity caused by illnesses such as diabetes or conditions affecting the liver and kidneys. A morning vaccination strategy will also be tested with the pneumococcal vaccine, which protects against pneumonia, also recommended for over 65s.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends annual flu vaccinations for women in all stages of pregnancy, children between the ages of six months and five years old, people aged 65 or older, people suffering from chronic conditions, and healthcare workers.

The study was published in the journal Vaccine.

Also on HuffPost

11 Things You Need To Know About Kids And The Flu Shot

Babies under six months don't get the flu shot.(01 of11)

Children younger than six months are in one of the higher-risk groups for flu complications, but they are too young to receive the annual vaccine.The best way to protect the youngest kids is for those around them -- including parents, siblings, and caretakers -- to get their flu shots. (credit:Getty)

Pregnant women can get the flu shot.(02 of11)

Pregnant women are able to get the injectable flu vaccine. This helps to protect them from the more serious complications, for which they are at higher risk, if they do contract the flu. But it can also help protect their babies before they reach the six-month minimum for vaccination, as the mother can pass on antibodies developed as a result of the vaccine to her child in utero and through breast milk. (credit:Getty)

There is a non-needle option for kids.(03 of11)

Have a child who particularly hates shots? Ask your doctor about the FluMist nasal flu vaccine. It provides flu protection through a nasal spray instead of an injection.

In some provinces, a prescription may be required and a small fee could apply.

(credit:Getty)

The shot is recommended for children older than six months.(04 of11)

Public health officials recommend that all children aged six months and older, with very few exceptions, get an annual flu shot. (credit:Getty)

You can't get the flu from the shot.(05 of11)

Some people report contracting the flu shortly after receiving a flu shot, but the two are just coincidental, not related.The injection vaccine contains an inactivated virus that can't make you sick -- it's impossible to get the flu from the shot.It takes a week or two for the vaccine prevention to kick in, so if you come down with something shortly after getting your shot, you were likely exposed before you were vaccinated. (credit:Getty)

There is no mercury in the flu shot.(06 of11)

The single-dose flu shot and nasal spray are both free of thiomerosol, a preservative that contains mercury and has been a source of concern for some parents.

As well, research that indicated a link between the preservative and autism has been disproven and officially retracted.

(credit:Getty)

Flu complications are common.(07 of11)

Children under the age of two years old are the group most likely to experience serious complications because of the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. And it's not unusual for kids to require medical care for influenza, especially if they are younger than five. (credit:Getty)

Some kids are at more risk of complications.(08 of11)

Kids with existing medical conditions -- including asthma, diabetes and brain or nervous system disorders -- are particularly at risk of developing serious complications if they get the flu, according to the CDC.

And the highest number of flu cases are found in children aged one to four, according to the Ontario government.

(credit:Getty)

Some children need two vaccine doses.(09 of11)

The CDC advises that some children aged six months to eight years will require two doses of the flu vaccine in order to receive its full benefits. Kids who are getting the shot for the first time should get two doses: one as early into the flu season as possible, and a second at least 28 days later. (credit:Getty)

The flu can be deadly for children.(10 of11)

A new study from the CDC found that 40 per cent of young children who die because of influenza have no other chronic health issues. The researchers found that there have been 830 flu-related deaths since October 2004 in children younger than 18 in the U.S. In examining the records of 794 of those children, they discovered that 43 per cent had no pre-existing conditions that would make them more at risk for serious flu complications.

The study recommends that sick children who are experiencing breathing problems or confusion should be brought to the hospital for medical attention.

(credit:Getty)

Your kids need the shot every year.(11 of11)

The influenza vaccine mutates yearly, and the flu vaccine provided each year contains protection against the three strains thought to be most threatening for that particular flu season. Getting vaccinated each year ensures that protection stays current. (credit:Getty)

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