Is It Too Early to Get a Flu Shot?
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Yes, it's that time of year again — flu shot season! Even if you're a relatively healthy person, it's smart to get an influenza vaccine. "With the flu, you can never really know for sure who is going to get super-sick," says Kathryn A. Boling, MD, a primary care doctor at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between 35 and 65 million Americans got the flu between October 1, 2023, and June 15, 2024 — which resulted in 16 to 30 million visits with a medical provider. But the flu shot can help prevent you from becoming a statistic, and having to deal with symptoms like headache, cough, fatigue, weakness, sore throat, runny, stuffy nose and eye pain. "It’s highly recommended that you receive a flu shot in order to prevent getting infected or transmitting the virus, and to reduce the severity of infection," says Paunel Vukasinov, MD, an internal medicine specialist at Medical Offices of Manhattan in New York City.
It's true that you can still catch influenza even if you've been vaccinated against it, but your bout with the virus may be less severe than if you skip the vaccine: The flu vaccine typically lowers your chance of having to go to the doctor by 40 to 60%, according to the CDC. And while these numbers can fluctuate depending on which flu viruses are circulating, the seasonal shots are formulated to be as close to the projected current viruses as possible, so "the composition of the vaccine was updated in this year's shot to reflect the most likely circulating strains," explains Dr. Vukasinov.
If all of this sounds a bit overwhelming, don't worry. Read on to figure out the best time to get a flu shot, where to get one, what to expect after your vaccination and whether you should get all three vaccines to protect against the "tripledemic"(the flu, COVID and RSV) that experts say we can expect this cold and flu season.
The best time to get a flu shot
Timing your shot correctly is important because it takes a little time for your body to build up antibodies, and you want to be protected before the virus is rampant. "It takes up to two weeks after getting a flu shot to be fully protected," says Dr. Boling. "I’m telling my patients to get their flu shots during the month of October, so they are fully protected by November."
You may be eager to get the jab done and over with, but it is possible to be vaccinated too early in the season. In 2022, "pharmacies had the shot available in July and August, and some of my patients who got their shots that early were coming to see me in April and May, sick with the flu, because their protection had worn off," Dr. Boling adds.
Never get a flu shot while you're actively sick or have a fever, or if you know you've recently been around someone who was sick with the flu. "If you've been exposed to the flu and get your flu shot right afterward, there's a chance your symptoms may make you feel sicker, and in that instance, you should definitely be seen by your healthcare provider," says Dr. Boling. Once you feel better or a little time has passed since your exposure, then you can get jabbed.
And if you're wondering if it's ever too late to get one, any time during cold and flu season technically works, but "usually sooner is better, in order for your body to have time and make a robust immune response," says Dr. Vukasinov. But even if you miss the October window, it's still worth getting a flu shot to protect you through the rest of winter.
Who is most at risk for the flu?
Certain factors can heighten your susceptibility to catching or getting a more severe case of the flu. “High risk groups include pregnant women, children younger than five years old (especially those under age two), adults age 50 and over (particularly past age 65) and individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, lung disease, kidney or liver disease and those with a compromised immune system,” says Dr. Vukasinov.
The flu can become deadly if it leads to pneumonia or a brain infection called encephalitis, so while people shouldn't panic, those in high risk groups should be vigilant in getting jabbed against it, Dr. Boling adds.
The flu shot and pregnancy
Yes — the flu shot is safe for pregnant women in any trimester, and "it also protects your baby because women who get the flu vaccine while pregnant or breastfeeding can pass those antibodies that they develop to their babies," Dr. Vukasinov says. But there's one important note: pregnant women should confirm with their vaccinator that they're not receiving a vaccine with a live virus in it (LAIV or nasal spray).
Side effects
Some people don't experience any side effects beyond a sore, red arm, says Dr. Vukasinov, but others may get flu-like symptoms such as headache, fatigue or fever. The good news is, most side effects will happen within 24 to 48 hours of getting vaccinated and go away on their own.
However, if your symptoms get worse, give your doctor a call. The reason is twofold: You want to make sure you aren’t having a serious reaction to the shot (so, so rare, but still possible), and you also want to check to make sure you aren't having complications related to the flu itself if the virus managed to infiltrate you right before you got jabbed. Signs of a serious reaction to the flu vaccine include trouble breathing, hoarseness, paleness, dizziness and hives, but again, very few people experience these effects.
Can I get a flu shot at the same time as my COVID-19 booster and/or an RSV vaccine?
When it comes to the COVID booster, always ask your doctor first, but the answer will most likely be "yes." There's a possibility that you may have a higher chance of experiencing side effects if you double up — a 2022 CDC study found that people who got a flu vaccine and an mRNA COVID booster vaccine at the same time were slightly more likely (8% to 11%) to have reactions including fatigue, headache and muscle ache than people who only got a COVID mRNA booster vaccine. However, these reactions were usually mild and went away quickly, so that's not a reason to reject one or the other if your doctor signs off, says Dr. Vukasinov.
If your doctor has recommended you get an RSV vaccine, too, you might want to split up these two jabs and get your flu shot at a different time. While it's safe to receive the two simultaneously, "there's some thought that co-administration of flu and RSV vaccines may make your antibodies somewhat lower, so I recommend spacing your flu shot and RSV shot out about two weeks apart," says Dr. Vukasinov.
Where to get a flu shot
Make an appointment with your healthcare provider, or head to your local pharmacy or urgent care clinic. Drug store chains like CVS and Walgreens offer low or no-cost flu shots with many insurance plans. Getting a shot is really easy – you can schedule an appointment online, or often just walk in.
You Might Also Like
