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Flu Season Starts Early, Doctors Urge Immediate Vaccination
ReFlu Season Starts Early, Doctors Urge Immediate Vaccination
Health experts are advising Americans to get their flu shots now as national surveillance data shows an unusually early rise in cases, with vaccination rates declining and new mRNA options available.
Health experts are urging Americans to get their flu shots earlier than usual this year, as national surveillance data shows an unexpected uptick in cases that could signal an early start to the respiratory virus season. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded a rise in flu activity in recent weeks, a pattern that typically does not appear until later in the fall.
«We might be seeing an early flu wave this year,» said Emily Martin, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health. Martin, who studies the spread of respiratory viruses and vaccine effectiveness, noted that while some flu cases often appear when students return to school and college campuses, the current activity is notable for persisting. «It's not unusual to have a little bit of flu show up when college students return to campus and when kids go back to school,» she said. «However, we've been seeing some flu activity in the last few weeks that seems to be sticking around.»
Because the vaccine takes about two weeks to become fully effective, Martin recommends getting vaccinated now. October is generally considered an ideal time for the flu shot, as it provides protection against early waves while maintaining coverage through the typical peak months of January and February. «The flu shot's effectiveness does wane over time, so if you get it in June or July, it could be weaker by the time you get to February,» Martin explained. «Still, it's important to remember that the flu shot—whenever you get it—is more effective than not getting a flu shot at all.»
This season marks the first time an mRNA-based flu vaccine is available. The shot, produced by Moderna and called mFlusiva, was found in a May 2026 study to be up to 27% more effective at preventing flu than four other available vaccines. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved mFlusiva for people ages 50 and older. The vaccine is also available as a traditional shot or nasal spray, and annual vaccination remains necessary because flu strains evolve and immune protection diminishes over time.
Despite the proven benefits, flu vaccination rates have been declining across the country. Among children, coverage fell from 63% in the 2019–2020 season to 50% in 2024–2025, a drop of 13 percentage points. The CDC estimates that about 300 children died in the 2024–2025 season from flu-related complications, most of them unvaccinated. Overall, the agency credits flu vaccination with preventing 10 million illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000 deaths during that same season.
Federal health guidance continues to recommend the flu vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and older, a position affirmed by the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, the Trump Administration has attempted to weaken those recommendations. Earlier this year, the CDC, under direction from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., sought to reduce the number of routinely recommended childhood vaccinations from 17 to 11, removing seasonal flu from the list for all children. A federal judge blocked the move. In August, President Trump signed an executive order calling for a similar overhaul, though legal experts say the order lacks legal force and official recommendations remain unchanged.
Doctors and vaccine scientists warn that the political debate has created confusion and skepticism. «Vaccines shouldn't be a political discussion. They are scientific tools that have done a great job at preventing infections and deaths,» said Dr. Ashlesha Kaushik, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. «There has been no change in the scientific evidence to inform the announcements. It's just confusing to medical professionals and to parents.» Kaushik encouraged families to consult their clinicians with any questions, adding that she and her children have already received their flu shots. She emphasized that the vaccine remains «our best bet» at preventing hospitalization and serious complications, reducing the risk of dying from the flu by 80% for children.
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