CDC: September–October Best Time to Get Flu Vaccine as influenza season approaches

With the influenza season approaching, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says September and October are generally the best times to get vaccinated for most people who need only one dose. The agency notes that ideally everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October, a target it reiterates as the season unfolds. It also emphasizes that protection takes about two weeks to develop after vaccination.

Older adults (65 and older) and pregnant people should not be vaccinated earlier than September, according to the CDC, because protection may wane over time. Early vaccination can be considered for anyone who cannot return later to be vaccinated. The agency stresses that vaccines remain effective through the season as flu viruses circulate. In all cases, it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu.

Among children, some will need two doses of the vaccine. That's the case for children 6 months to 8 years old who are getting the shot for the first time, those who have not received two flu shots in their lifetime, or those whose influenza vaccination history is unknown. Early vaccinations, in July and August, can be considered for children who only need one dose, according to the CDC. For children who require two doses, the first dose should be administered as soon as it’s available, with at least four weeks between the two shots.

For those children, the CDC recommends that the first dose be given as soon as it’s available, and there should be at least four weeks between the two shots. Early vaccinations can also be given in July and August for people who are in their third trimester of pregnancy at that time.

Pregnant women should not get vaccinated earlier than September, according to the CDC's guidance. This timing can help protect their infants for the first few months after birth, when they are too young to be vaccinated.

Flu shots can be administered to anyone 6 months and older, with available options including injectables and a nasal spray. "Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October," the CDC guidance notes. Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, previously told Fox News Digital that the time to get a flu shot is over the next month or two, noting that the shot lasts six to nine months and that flu season generally peaks in January or February. Vaccination should continue throughout the season for as long as flu viruses are circulating, according to a Walgreens spokesperson. The Walgreens representative echoed the CDC guidance to get vaccinated by the end of October and added that vaccination should continue through the season. "It takes about two weeks after the vaccine for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu," the spokesperson said. Getting vaccinated now helps protect families as children return to school and the holiday season approaches.

As a reminder, flu season tends to peak in January or February, but activity can begin earlier in some years. Health officials urge people to talk to their healthcare providers about the right timing for vaccination, especially if you have specific health concerns or belong to a higher-risk group. Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.