The best way to protect yourself from getting influenza is to get a flu vaccine injection every year two to six weeks prior to the flu season. However, as not many people decide to get the flu shot the number of people who get influenza is growing every year. The majority of adults need only one dose of vaccine a year, but children up to 9 years of age should get two doses with at least four weeks between each dose if they had not been immunized previously.
As the flu virus mutates each year some predictions are made as to what three influenza virus strains are the most likely to be encountered and those are the ones that the vaccines contain. However, not everyone can get vaccinated. For instance, infants up to six months do not have a mature immune system and cannot benefit from the vaccine. Also, people allergic to eggs should not receive the flu vaccine as it is prepares using hen eggs. Yet, they can receive amantadine or rimantadine as an alternative protective measure against flu.