The Exact Best Time To Get Your Flu Shot for Season-Long Protection, According to Doctors
The reminders to schedule your flu shot often start toward the end of August. You may get an SMS from your local CVS or perhaps start seeing PSAs during the nightly news. Some people are natural planners and may want to mark a date on their calendar to get their flu shots even earlier. Others may be the opposite, forget to schedule theirs and wonder around the holidays as case numbers surge if it's too late to get one.
So, when should you get a flu shot? Does it matter?
"Timing the flu vaccine can be important because the immunity it gives begins to wane after about four months," says Dr. Linda Yancey, MD, the director of Infection Prevention at the Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston. "That is not to say that it is not still effective, but the best bang for your buck is in the months following the shot."
What months are those? Dr. Yancey and other specialists got specific about when to get a flu shot (while leaving a whole lot of runway for nuance based on your health).
The No. 1 Best Time To Get a Flu Shot for the Strongest Protection
There isn't a single best day to get the flu shot. However, there is generally an optimal timeframe for the most protection: September and October, says Dr. Edward Liu, MD, MPH, FACP, FISDA, the section chief of infectious diseases at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
"Flu season could start early, so it’s better not to procrastinate," Dr. Liu says.
Dr. Liu points to CDC guidance recommending getting vaccinated in September or October, saying it's ideal to be vaccinated by the end of October. Another expert echoes these sentiments.
"In New York, where I practice, flu season typically starts in November and peaks in December or January," says Dr. Andrew Handel, MD, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at Stony Brook Children's Hospital. "Getting a flu vaccine dose in September or October will typically allow for maximum protection when cases are most common one to two months later."
Can You Get a Flu Shot Too Early or Too Late?
Experts say it's better to get the flu shot outside of the September-October recommended window than not at all. "The only downside to getting a flu shot 'too early' would be that peak protection has passed by the time influenza hits in your area," Dr. Yancey says. "Not to worry—you still have some protection from the vaccine for all of flu season."
As for the procrastinators in the group: "If it's still cold out, it's probably still worth getting the shot. Although cases usually peak around December through January, they often continue well into March and April," Dr. Handel says.
Or even May, the CDC reports. Again, it varies by season and location, but the CDC states that flu activity can start at the end of October and peaks between December and February.
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Why the Best Flu Shot Timing Can Vary by the Person
While most people can benefit from scheduling a flu shot in September or October, it's not a one-size-fits-all equation. "The best time to get a flu shot depends a lot on the individual person," Dr. Yancey says.
For instance, Dr. Yancey recommends getting the vaccine:
As soon as it comes out if you or any kids you live with are going back to school or college
Four weeks before starting treatments like chemotherapy, immune-suppressing medications, or major surgery that increases your odds of getting sick.
Four weeks before international travel
The beginning of the flu season if you are pregnant (Nuanced note: "If you are due to give birth during flu season, ask your OB about the RSV vaccine and the flu shot in your third trimester," Dr. Yancey says. "Getting vaccinated then will pass that immunity along to your baby and give that extra protection when your baby's immune system is the weakest.")
A second time in the new year if you are at risk all season long, such as if you have lung disease or long-term immunosuppression (Dr. Yancey says your doctor can give you the best advice.)
TL;DR: "Since there are many personal factors as well as flu-related factors which impact the timing decision, it is often best to discuss with your primary care physician the ideal flu vaccine timing," says Dr. David Cutler, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center.
Oh, and if you're having that conversation at the doctor's office: "Since many people miss this window and most cases occur before or after the peak, it is probably best to administer the flu vaccine as soon as possible and at any routine visit between August and March," Dr . Cutler says. "This applies to people of all ages."
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Expert Sources
Dr. Linda Yancey, MD, director of infection prevention at the Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston
Dr. Edward Liu, MD, MPH, FACP, FISDA, the section chief of infectious diseases at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Influenza Vaccination: A Summary for Clinicians. CDC.
Dr. Andrew Handel, MD, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at Stony Brook Children's Hospital
Flu Season. CDC.
Dr. David Cutler, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center