One of the best ways to prepare for cold weather health issues is to make sure you’re up to date on vaccines that can help protect against respiratory viruses, including flu.

Every year, scientists and doctors decide which flu strains are most likely to circulate during flu season and make people sick. typically peaks It is between December and February but starts in the fall. Structure of 2024-2025 flu vaccines The decision has been made and pharmacies across the country should have it in stock.

Doctors and health officials generally start recommending the flu vaccine in September, but it’s definitely not too late if you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet. In fact, waiting until now means you still have time to get vaccinated before flu activity typically begins to increase and disease occurs. most holiday gatherings, It provides an opportunity for respiratory viruses such as flu, COVID and RSV to enter circulation more easily.

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s flu vaccine. Also here Which vaccines should you keep in mind? If you are 50 years old or older.

Who should get the flu vaccine?

Almost everyone aged six months or older According to the CDC, you should get a flu vaccine.

The CDC makes rare exceptions for people who should not get the vaccine, including people who have had a severe allergic reaction to the flu vaccine in the past, people who are severely allergic to an ingredient in the flu vaccine (such as gelatin), and those who do not. He has a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a type of paralyzing disease.

What types of flu vaccines are there?

According to the CDC, flu vaccines available this season will be egg-based and cell or recombinant-based.

Older adults aged 60 and over have historically Higher dose of vaccine recommended because of serious illness more common in older adults.

Dr. D., an infectious diseases expert and senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Older adults should opt for the “high-dose” or “adjuvanted” vaccine, Amesh Adalja said in an email.

In addition to age-based recommendations, people who are traditionally pregnant not recommended Nasal spray flu vaccine along with other adults age 50 and older.

Another important change so far this year is the availability of vaccines. trivalentmeaning they will target three different strains of flu. This means moving away from quadrivalent vaccines (four strains) because a particular strain of flu (influenza B/Yamagata viruses) has not been around since March 2020.

Recently FDA approved the The first flu vaccine at homeFor adults under 50 and children ages 2 and over. This is a nasal vaccine that you can get a prescription for through an online pharmacy, but unfortunately it’s not expected to be available until next year’s flu season.

When should you get the flu vaccine?

flu vaccines generally recommended It will start in September or October, but you can get it any time after that. Generally, it takes about two weeks for your body to return to normal after getting the flu vaccine. mount an immune response and we offer protection.

So getting the vaccine now or in early November means the vaccine should be fully “initiated” by Thanksgiving; This marks the first indoor, close-quarters gathering of many people in the U.S. (meaning huge opportunities for respiratory viruses to spread more easily).

Waiting until at least October may also mean you’ll still have protection toward the end of the busy flu season, which usually extends into spring.

“Taking it (too early) may lead to reduced protection later in the season,” Adalja said in late August, adding that he recommends people wait until October to get a flu shot.