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When is it too late to get a flu shot?
AOL.com • • health
Key Points:
- The optimal time to get a flu shot is in September or October, about two weeks before flu season peaks, which typically runs from October through May in the U.S.
- It is almost never too late to get vaccinated, even if flu season has started or if you have already had the flu, as the vaccine protects against multiple strains and flu can circulate until late spring.
- The flu vaccine is safe, effective, and recommended for nearly everyone over 6 months old, including pregnant women and older adults, and it reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and missed work or school.
- People with severe allergies to the vaccine, infants under 6 months, or those with certain medical histories should consult healthcare providers before vaccination; egg allergies are no longer a concern for flu shots.
- Flu vaccines are widely accessible through doctors, pharmacies, clinics, and health departments, and common mild side effects reflect immune response rather than flu infection.
