Each fall, the question returns: should you get a flu shot this year.
Health experts say the answer remains yes, and they point out that the flu vaccine continues to be one of the simplest and most effective tools we have for reducing severe illness and hospitalizations.
While it is true that forecasts suggest the 2025–2026 flu season may be more moderate than last year’s unusually severe wave, influenza is still expected to circulate widely.
Even in average years, the flu can place vulnerable groups at risk, including children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
For these populations especially, the protection offered by a seasonal vaccine can mean the difference between a mild illness at home and a hospital stay.
Physicians emphasize that while the vaccine is not perfect, it significantly lowers the chance of severe complications and can prevent many cases of influenza altogether.
Timing is another key consideration.
Experts recommend receiving the vaccine in early fall, ideally before the end of October.
This ensures that your body has time to build immunity before flu activity peaks.
William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University, notes that while exact predictions about flu season severity are difficult, the safest course is to make vaccination a routine part of yearly health care rather than waiting on forecasts.
There is also growing evidence that flu vaccines contribute to broader public health goals.
By reducing the number of cases overall, vaccinations can help prevent the spread of influenza through communities, lowering the chance that hospitals become overwhelmed by a surge in respiratory illnesses.
In addition, protecting yourself indirectly helps shield others who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants under six months of age.
This season also brings options.
For those who dislike injections, the Food and Drug Administration has approved a nasal spray vaccine for people ages two through forty-nine, which can be self-administered under guidance from a health professional.
Availability is expected to be widespread, with more than 150 million doses distributed in the United States.
Pharmacies, medical offices, and even some workplaces will serve as convenient locations to receive the vaccine.
Ultimately, the flu is not an illness to take lightly.
Even among healthy adults, cases can progress quickly and cause complications ranging from pneumonia to heart-related issues.
Vaccination does not guarantee immunity, but it dramatically lowers the risk of both hospitalization and death, with estimates showing a 40 to 60 percent reduction in severe outcomes for those who receive the shot.
In a season where multiple respiratory viruses—including COVID-19 and RSV—are also expected to circulate, taking a simple step such as receiving your flu shot can give you and your community an important layer of protection.
If you have questions about timing, available options, or how vaccination fits into your personal health plan, consider reaching out to a trusted health professional for guidance.