While our age undeniably has an influence on our health, many of us don’t give that much thought to the time of year in which we were born.
Aside from determining your school year and horoscope it doesn’t really have much of an impact.
But now research has shown that being born in a certain month could mean you are less likely to become ill with a certain virus.
A new study, published in the British Medical Journal, revealed that children born in October are less likely to get flu than those born in any other month.
According to scientists at Harvard University, kids born in October are both more likely to be vaccinated against influenza and least likely to be diagnosed with it compared with children born in other months.
As part of the study the team analysed health insurance claims to identify more than 800,000 children aged two to five years old who received an influenza vaccination between August 1 and January 31, from 2011 to 2018.
They then looked at the rates of diagnosed influenza among these children by birth month.
October was found to be the most common month for children to be vaccinated and on top of this children born in October had the lowest rate of influenza diagnosis.
The average rate of influenza diagnosis across flu seasons was 2.7 percent for children born in October.
To compare, the rate for children born in August was three percent and it was 2.9 percent for those born in December.
The researchers concluded that birth month is associated with both timing of flu vaccination and the likelihood of a flu diagnosis.
As a result they said October is the best time for young children to have a flu shot, in line with current recommendations.
Researchers said: “Our findings suggest that US public health interventions focused on vaccination of young children in October may yield the best protection in typical flu seasons.
“The study’s findings are consistent with current recommendations promoting October vaccination.”
In the UK, the flu jab is currently offered to children aged two to three years, school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) and children with certain long-term health conditions.
Among adults it is offered every year in the autumn or winter months.
You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:
- Are aged 65 or over (including if you will be 65 by 31 March 2024)
- Have certain long-term health conditions
- Are pregnant
- Live in a care home
- Are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance
- Live with someone who has a weakened immune system.
Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.
If you are eligible for a vaccine you can contact your GP surgery to book an appointment or find a pharmacy that offers NHS flu vaccination (if you’re aged 18 or over).
Flu symptoms can appear quickly and can include:
- A sudden high temperature
- An aching body
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- A dry cough
- A sore throat
- A headache
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea or tummy pain
- Feeling sick and being sick.
If you experience symptoms the NHS recommends you:
- Rest and sleep
- Keep warm
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains
- Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your urine should be light yellow or clear).
You should also try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities to avoid infecting others.
If symptoms do not improve after seven days you should call 111 or arrange a GP appointment.
