While it's still technically summer, health officials and pharmacies have been prepping for cooler-weather health problems, like the increased spread of respiratory viruses like COVID, RSV and the flu.
Each year, scientists and doctors decide on which strains of influenza are most likely to circulate and make people sick during flu season, which typically peaks between December and February but begins during fall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has already announced the makeup of the 2024 to 2025 flu vaccines, and pharmacies including Walmart and CVS are advertising this season's shots. But when should you make your appointment?
Health officials have traditionally pushed for people to get the flu vaccine before the end of October; in a late-June announcement, the CDC said that September and October are the best months for most people to get vaccinated. But as is true for all things infectious disease, there's some nuance in terms of what's best for you and your health. Here's what we know so far about this season's flu vaccines.
Who should get a flu vaccine?
Nearly everyone aged six months or older should get a flu vaccine, according to the CDC.
The CDC offers rare exceptions for who shouldn't get one, including people who've had a severe allergic reaction to a flu vaccine in the past, those who have a severe allergy to an ingredient in the flu vaccine (like gelatin) and those with a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a type of paralyzing illness.
What types of flu vaccines are there?
The flu vaccines that will be available this season are egg-based and cell- or recombinant-based, according to the CDC. We may expect the agency to publish more specific information about this year's 2024 to 2025 flu vaccine sometime this month.
Older adults in their 60s and up have historically been recommended a higher-dose vaccine, since severe illness is more common in older adults.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said in an email that older adults should opt for a "high-dose" or "adjuvanted" vaccine.
Besides age-based recommendations, people who are pregnant traditionally haven't been recommended the nasal spray flu vaccine, along with other adults aged 50 and up.
One more significant change this year so far is that vaccines will be trivalent, meaning they'll target three different strains of flu. This is a shift away from quadrivalent vaccines (four strains) because a specific type of flu (influenza B/Yamagata viruses) hasn't been around since March 2020.
When should you get a flu vaccine?
Flu vaccines are generally recommended in September or October. In fact, health officials say that most people shouldn't get vaccinated earlier than that, despite flu vaccines being available already. This is based on when flu activity typically peaks and the fact you want immunity from your flu vaccine to last.
"Getting it now may lead to decreased protection at the tail end of the season," Adalja said, adding that he recommends people wait until October to get the flu vaccine. "Influenza is not really circulating significantly in the United States currently."
According to the CDC, exceptions for getting it early (July or August) include children who already have scheduled health-care visits during this time and likely won't have an appointment in September or October, kids who need two doses of flu vaccine and people in their third trimester of pregnancy.
It's especially important that older adults 65 and up and people in the first two trimesters of pregnancy -- groups at higher risk of flu complications -- don't get vaccinated early (August), per the CDC, unless they won't be able to get the shot at a more prime time.
Ask your doctor questions now so you can make your appointment in advance
If you're in your 60s or older, or you think you'll be given a special recommendation around flu vaccination based on a health condition, give your doctor or pharmacist a call to make sure they'll have your preferred (high-dose) vaccine in stock when you make your appointment. You can also clear up any questions ahead of time so you can arrive at your appointment prepared.
If you'd rather get multiple shots out of the way in one appointment, you may also consider waiting for the updated COVID-19 vaccine, which is expected to be available soon. Like with flu, the newer COVID vaccines have been remade to better match the circulating strains currently making people sick.
"Our top recommendation for protecting yourself and your loved ones from respiratory illness is to get vaccinated," CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in a June statement. "Make a plan now for you and your family to get both updated flu and COVID vaccines this fall, ahead of the respiratory virus season."
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.