Sep 03, 2013 02:54 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The end of summer is not often associated with influenza, but that does not mean it is a bad time to get vaccinated.

According to the Associated Press, certain flu vaccines will guard against four strains of influenza instead of the usual three. The quadrivalent vaccines will be of low supply, so it is better to go for them earlier than usual.

However, the quadrivalent vaccines are more recommended for children because they protect against an early strain of the flu that children are more prone to.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has advised parents to bring children six months and older to get vaccinated, HealthDay News reported. The AAP did not state the new quardivalent vaccine is better than any other, but rather that children just be vaccinated before flu season rather than at the very beginning of it.

"Parents should not delay vaccinating their children to obtain a specific vaccine," Dr. Henry Bernstein, a pediatrician and lead author of the flu recommendations, said in an academy news release. "Influenza virus is unpredictable, and what's most important is that people receive the vaccine soon so they will be protected when the virus begins circulating."

According to the Associated Press, there are several improvements to the standard trivalent vaccine. For example, if a patient is allergic to eggs, there is a specialized vaccine for that person. There is also growing interest in a shot tailored for senior citizens and a skin-deep prick for those scared of needles.

"We're moving away from the one-size-fits-all to choosing the best possible vaccine for an individual's age and condition," said Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic.

One major risk of flu vaccinations is the possibility of an epidemic like the ones from 1918, 1957, 1968 and 2009, CNN reported. When this happens, it is typically because a new flu mutation hits and the people affected do not have the proper immunity against it.

Of all the diseases treatable by a vaccination, influenza is the only in which one is recommended annually. Many doctors advise every person at least six months old to be vaccinated once a year.

According to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 24,000 Americans die every year from the flu. While there is not one flu vaccine that can protect against all types of the flu, doctors still recommend people go for their shot early on rather than after the infection has a chance to spread.

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