When Is the Best Time to Get a Flu Shot?

Updated vaccines for the upcoming flu season are at pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and community clinics now. Should you claim your flu shot or nasal flu vaccine right away? Or are you worried that it’s too soon and your immunity might “wear off” by the time flu season kicks into high gear?

It’s never too late to get the flu shot, but holding off for too long could increase your chances of getting sick.

When’s the Best Time to Get a Flu Shot?

In a perfect world, you’d get your flu shot in October, says Scott Roberts, MD, infectious disease specialist and associate medical director of infection prevention at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.

“This ensures peak immunity against the virus occurs during months when the virus is typically at its peak — December and January — and when exposure risk is highest due to traveling and gathering for the holidays,” Dr. Roberts says.

Just be sure to get vaccinated well before flu season really kicks in, if possible. “Thousands of people in the U.S. die every year from the flu or flu-related complications,” Roberts says.

If You Get the Flu Shot Too Early, Can It Wear Off Too Soon?

There is some truth to the idea that the flu shot can lose its effectiveness over time, says Frederick Chen, MD, MPH, primary care doctor and professor of family medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.

“In general, we don’t recommend people getting the flu shot in July or August. It’s a good idea to wait until the middle of September,” Dr. Chen says.

• Pregnant women in their third trimester can get a flu shot in July or August to ensure that their babies are protected after birth.
• Children who need two doses of the flu vaccine should get their first dose as soon as it becomes available, with the second dose given at least four weeks later.
• Children who only need one dose may also receive their flu shot in July or August.
• Vaccination in July or August can be considered for anyone who might not be able to return to see a healthcare provider in September or October.

Answers to Other Flu Shot FAQs

Find out more about the flu shot, including side effects, whether it can make you sick, how effective it is, and whether it’s okay to get your flu shot and other vaccines at the same time.

Can I Wait to See if There’s Lots of Flu Where I Live Before Getting Vaccinated?

Trying to sync your flu shot with flu activity in your area is not only difficult but also may also leave you vulnerable. The virus can start spreading at any time, and that can be hard to predict.

Is It Ever Too Late to Get the Flu Vaccine?

It’s never too late to get a flu shot, Chen says. As long as flu viruses are still circulating, it’s still worth getting vaccinated, even if it’s February or March.

“It’s recommended that you get the flu shot in the fall, but if for some reason you wait until later in the season, you should still get it,” he adds.

How Effective Will This Year’s Flu Vaccine Be?

Each year, an advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviews and updates the composition of U.S. flu vaccines to best match the viral strains expected to be the most common during the upcoming season.

The vaccine’s effectiveness depends on the accuracy of this match, and it’s too early to know exactly how good this year’s prediction will be.

“Despite not being perfect, the data show that vaccination is one of the best ways to protect yourself against seasonal influenza,” says Tony Moody, MD, professor of pediatrics and infectious diseases at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina, and director of the Duke CIVICs Vaccine Center.

Can I Get a Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine at the Same Time?

Although getting multiple vaccines at the same time won’t change their efficacy, you might be more likely to experience side effects.

What Are the Most Common Side Effects of the Flu Shot?

Should I Be Worried About a Flu Vaccine Shortage?

The flu vaccine is produced by private manufacturers, and so the supply depends on those companies. Those manufacturers have projected that they will provide the United States with an adequate supply of vaccines for the 2026–27 season.

Is It Really Okay to Get a Flu Shot at a Pharmacy or Grocery Store?

Yes, it’s perfectly safe to get your flu shot at your local pharmacy or grocery store, Chen says.

Is the Flu Season Expected to Be Bad This Year?

Experts often look at flu rates in the Southern Hemisphere to project what the season might be like in the United States.

The Southern Hemisphere influenza season is still underway but has been relatively mild, compared with historical averages, and influenza A vaccine coverage has been good, says Michael Ben-Aderet, MD, medical director of hospital epidemiology at Huntington Health, a Cedars-Sinai affiliate in Pasadena, California. That suggests that the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere could be milder than the past few years, though it’s not a guarantee.

“Even in a lighter season, flu is a serious illness for those who get it, and vaccination remains the best protection,” Dr. Ben-Aderet says.

Is It True That Getting a Flu Shot Can Give You the Flu?

“The most common reason that I hear about why people don’t want a flu shot is that they got a flu shot once and got the flu afterward,” Chen says. Most years, only about half of Americans get flu shots, he says.

“Let me be clear: Flu shots do not give you the flu,” Chen notes.