Healthy Living
Here's When You Should Get Your Flu Shot
When’s the best time to get your flu shot? It’s not as simple as “whenever you remember.” Timing matters and getting it right could be what keeps you out of the hospital this winter.
Most people dismiss the flu as “a bad cold.” That misconception can be deadly. I know, because I’ve seen the consequences firsthand.
In all my years of practicing medicine, the only patient who died under my care was a pregnant teenager with influenza pneumonia. She was unvaccinated and became critically ill very quickly.
(Both her parents were doctors, by the way, and her fetus died as well.)
I’ve had influenza twice (and Covid twice). Both times in March, and I thought I was going to be hospitalized. I’d never been so sick in my life. I missed 10 days of work. While I’d been vaccinated, the illness would have been much more severe if I hadn’t been. And for me, my flu illnesses were much more severe than my Covid infections.
For these reasons, I take the flu very, very seriously.
What The Flu Does to Your Body
The flu doesn’t just give you a runny nose. It attacks the respiratory system, which can trigger secondary bacterial pneumonia (a lung infection that causes chest pain, chills, and shortness of breath).
In addition, infection with influenza can stress the cardiovascular system.
- Zoom In: If you’re 50 or older, even a mild case of flu can sharply increase the short-term risk of heart attack and ischemic stroke. That elevated risk can linger for weeks, even after you’ve “recovered.”
Every season, there are thousands of hospitalizations and deaths from the flu. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older.
When Should I Get The Flu Shot?
The sweet spot is usually October. This timing lets your immune system build antibodies before flu activity ramps up (December through March) and protects you during the winter stretch.
“Can I just get it done early in the summer?”
Not ideal, as vaccine effectiveness declines over time. Studies show it drops 6-11% per month after vaccination. The CDC advises against July or August shots for most people (especially those 65 and older) unless they can’t get vaccinated later.
Side Note: This doesn’t mean that the vaccine “stops working.” Protection at any point is better than none (and flu viruses hang around into April and even May). Please still get vaccinated.
Fine-Tuning Your Flu Shot Timing
A few things to consider:
- Travel or “high risk” events (e.g., wedding, family reunion, etc) coming up? Get your flu shot at least 2 weeks prior.
- Live somewhere warm? If temps stay hotter into fall and people are still largely spending time outdoors, AND there are no rising flu cases, wait until November.
I get my flu shot every November to coincide with weather changes, more indoor events, increasing local cases, and the timing of national flu increases.
Let’s Address Vaccine Objections, Shall We?
“I heard you can get the flu from the flu shot.” Myth. It’s scientifically impossible since the vaccine doesn’t contain live influenza virus. If you get sick after your shot, you were exposed before or immediately after getting vaccinated.
“Flu shots don’t work that well.” Myth (ish). Flu vaccines reduce your risk of getting sick enough to see a doctor by 40%-60% when the vaccine matches circulating strains well.
- Zoom In: As vaccines go, this isn’t great, but it’s definitely better than nothing. In poorly matched years, protection dips lower; in good years, it climbs higher.
Even if you still catch the flu, vaccination makes it less dangerous. It reduces hospitalization, flu-related heart attacks or strokes, and death.
Think of it like a seat belt. It doesn’t guarantee you won’t be killed in a motor vehicle accident, but it does increase your chances of survival.
“I’ve never gotten a flu shot, and I’ve never had the flu.” I’ve heard this countless times, and my answer is always the same: it only takes once.
Practical Flu Tips
- Aim for October or November. If you miss that window, get the shot the second you can, even if it’s in January or February.
- If you’re 65 or older, ask for a high-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccine, which produces a stronger immune response. (Same timing advice applies.)
- Allow two weeks for antibodies to build. Plan ahead for travel or gatherings.
- It’s safe for most people to get a COVID-19 booster the same day. Ask your clinician if it’s right for you.
- Remember that flu season tends to peak in January and February nationwide.
This one simple step lowers your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and cardiovascular complications. That is not fear. That is a scientific fact, and it is respect for a virus that deserves it.
