Flu Season Is Getting Started, and Doctors Say It Is Not Too Late for a Shot

Flu season is beginning to stir, and doctors say the days ahead are a good time to get a shot if you have not already. The Association of Health Care Journalists, in a November 3 report, noted that the flu may be off to an early start in some western areas, though it added that it is too soon to say how the national picture will unfold. Flu usually peaks between December and February, so protection now can carry you through the worst stretch.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend a yearly flu shot for nearly everyone 6 months and older. For adults 65 and older, the agency suggests a stronger shot rather than a standard dose. Those options include a high-dose vaccine, a recombinant vaccine, and an adjuvanted vaccine, each meant to produce a better immune response in older bodies. If a preferred shot is not on hand, officials say it is better to get whatever age-appropriate vaccine is available than to skip the shot.

Timing matters. September and October are often called the best months, but it is not too late. You can be vaccinated any time while flu viruses are spreading and supplies last, even into the new year, though earlier is better for older adults.

Flu is not the only concern this fall. Many older adults are also eligible for an updated COVID-19 shot and, for those who have not had one, an RSV vaccine. The RSV shot is a one-time dose for most people, so anyone who already received it should not get another. You can often get more than one vaccine at the same visit, so ask your provider.

Cost is usually not a barrier for people on Medicare. Medicare says you pay nothing for a flu vaccine when your doctor or other provider accepts assignment, which means they agree to Medicare's approved amount as full payment. Most doctors and pharmacies that give the shot accept assignment, but it is worth asking first. Adults who are not yet on Medicare should check with their own plan.