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Many pharmacies are already encouraging people to get their annual flu shot.Doctors say that timing is important with your flu shot\u2014getting it too early can leave you less protected toward the end of flu season. It\u2019s best to aim to get your shot in a specific window of time this fall.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s easy to forget about the flu\u2014until you start getting reminders from big-name pharmacy chains that it\u2019s time for your annual flu vaccine. But while pharmacies begin stocking them in August, is it wise to get one that soon? Could you get a flu shot too early?<\/p>\n
Yes, infectious disease doctors say it\u2019s possible to get your flu shot too early. Unfortunately, that can leave you vulnerable to getting sick at the end of the flu season.<\/p>\n
During last year\u2019s flu season, there were at least 32 million illnesses, 390,000 hospitalizations, and 24,000 deaths from the flu, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (CDC). Now, the flu shot isn\u2019t perfect and won\u2019t always keep you from getting sick. But experts stress that getting vaccinated against the flu can lower the odds you\u2019ll get seriously sick if you get infected.<\/p>\n Meet the experts: William Schaffner, M.D.,<\/a> an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., <\/a>senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security; Melinda Haas, D.N.P<\/a>., clinical assistant professor at the University at Buffalo School of Nursing; Thomas Russo, M.D.<\/a>, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York.<\/p>\n So, when is it too early for the flu shot and what is the sweet spot to aim for? Here\u2019s what medical providers recommend.<\/p>\n When does flu season start and end?<\/p>\n There is no official start and end date for the flu, but it tends to follow a pattern in the U.S. Flu season usually starts to ramp up in October, per the CDC<\/a>.<\/p>\n Flu season tends to peak in December and February, and fades by the spring, according to the CDC. However, some seasons are longer than others, and there can be higher levels of the flu circulating as late as May.<\/p>\n Why does timing matter with the flu shot? <\/p>\n The flu shot isn\u2019t effective indefinitely, which is part of the reason why it\u2019s recommended that you get vaccinated every year. It\u2019s hard to put an exact number on how long protection from your flu shot will last, since it depends on different factors, including your own immune system, says William Schaffner, M.D.,<\/a> an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine<\/p>\n But there is a general range you can expect. \u201cThe flu vaccine typically provides protection for about six to eight months,\u201d says Melinda Haas, D.N.P<\/a>., clinical assistant professor at the University at Buffalo School of Nursing. \u201cHowever, it\u2019s important to note that this can vary depending on individual factors and the specific strains of the flu virus<\/a> in a given season.\u201d<\/p>\n Because there\u2019s a range for peak effectiveness, timing can be important. \u201cIf one gets the flu shot too early, your protection may run out before the end of flu season,\u201d says Thomas Russo, M.D.<\/a>, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York.<\/p>\n Is it too early for a flu shot?<\/p>\n Doctors generally agree that right now is too early for a flu shot. \u201cThe concern is that the protection will wane,\u201d says Dr. Schaffner.<\/p>\n Infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D.,<\/a> senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, agrees. \u201cThe influenza season can last into mid-spring,\u201d he points out.<\/p>\n The only people who may benefit from getting vaccinated now are children under the age of 8 who have never had a flu shot, Dr. Schaffner says. \u201cThey will need two doses, spaced apart, so you can get it now and then later,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n Add Prevention as a preferred source in your Google search results.<\/p>\n Use your Google account to add this to your settings.<\/p>\n Add to Google settings<\/p>\n What are my flu vaccine options?<\/p>\n You have a few choices when it comes to getting vaccinated against the flu. Most Americans under the age of 65 who get the flu shot will get a trivalent vaccine, which targets three strains of the flu, per the CDC<\/a>. However, it\u2019s recommended that adults 65 and up get a quadrivalent flu vaccine, which targets four strains of the flu.<\/p>\n There are variations within those types of vaccines, including flu shots that are egg-free and new mRNA flu vaccines that were released this year. You also have the option of getting a nasal flu vaccine called FluMist, which is sprayed into your nose, bypassing the needle altogether.<\/p>\n When is the best time to get a flu shot?<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to figure out an exact time to get your shot. \u201cPharmacies start stocking them in August,\u201d Dr. Russo says. However, the CDC usually recommends<\/a> getting your shot by Halloween.<\/p>\n \u201cOctober is when I recommend getting the vaccine as there is more actual influenza activity then\u2014there is very little now,\u201d Dr. Adalja says. \u201cThe vaccine will last further into the season if administered in October.\u201d<\/p>\n Also worth considering: It takes about two weeks after you\u2019re vaccinated for your body to develop antibodies against the flu, per the CDC<\/a>. So, if you have a big indoor event coming up sometime in late October or November, you may want to plan to get your flu vaccine a few weeks ahead of that, just to be safe.<\/p>\n But if now is the only time you can get vaccinated, Dr. Adalja says it\u2019s better than nothing.<\/p>\n Who should consider getting the flu shot earlier? <\/p>\n For most people, getting the flu shot in late October is best. But if you\u2019re at a high risk for flu complications or if flu cases are starting to jump up in your area, Dr. Russo says you may want to consider getting vaccinated on the earlier side.<\/p>\n Again, it takes about two weeks to get peak immunity, so you\u2019ll want to keep that in mind, too.<\/p>\n Who should get the flu shot later? <\/p>\n It\u2019s not typically recommended that you try to get the flu shot on the later side. However, Dr. Russo says you can still get your shot if you miss the Halloween deadline.<\/p>\n \u201cIf for whatever reason you did not get your flu shot and we\u2019re in the middle of flu season, it\u2019s still not too late to get your shot,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Can you get a second flu shot?<\/p>\n![\"Google\"](\"https:\/\/www.prevention.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/social\/google.1467f37.svg\")
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