In the waning days of summer, flu season can still feel a long way off. Yet some pharmacy chains have already started urging consumers to beat the crowds and schedule a flu vaccine.
However experts said that for most people, getting a shot at the start of September may be too early to provide protection that will last throughout flu season.
This year’s vaccines protect against several different flu viruses, which can cause fever, fatigue, body aches, diarrhea and other symptoms. In serious cases, an infection can lead to hospitalization or even be fatal. There were about 35 million cases of flu nationwide last season. About 400,000 people were hospitalized with flu infections, and 25,000 people died.
When is the right time for a shot?
Ideally, you want to get your flu shot before cases in your area start picking up. The problem is, it’s difficult to predict when exactly that will happen, because it varies in different parts of the country and from year to year. The Covid-19 pandemic also disrupted flu season, delaying the start and sharply diminishing the spread of the flu virus from 2020 to 2022.
Flu season started to return to normal last year, said Deepta Bhattacharya, a professor of immunobiology at the University of Arizona. This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has designated Oct. 5 as the start of its flu surveillance season.
Experts say most people should get vaccinated between mid-September and late October. The C.D.C. recommends getting your shot by the end of October at the latest.
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