Scripps said it will assess the new vaccine for adults 50 and older in the future “and if it is determined to be appropriate for these patients, may add it to its available influenza vaccine options for the 2027-28 flu season.”
According to Scripps, San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency data show local influenza deaths declined during the 2025-26 season as compared with the previous season — but the virus “still claimed 76 lives in San Diego County and infected more than 25,000 people.”
Scripps doctors reminded residents that “annual vaccination remains the best way to reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death.”
Health professionals “recommend getting vaccinated in September or October, so the body’s immune system has time to build protection before influenza activity begins increasing in the community,” according to Scripps. Usually, the body’s immune system develops antibodies that help protect against infection after two weeks, Scripps added.
Physicians offered tips on how residents can reduce the spread of influenza, including: