Flu season is near – here’s a guide to available vaccines

The number of people sick with flu is starting to increase across the United States, with health authorities warning that in some of the country, the 2026-27 flu season may be off to an early start.

Health authorities often advise people to get their – but as an , I see the uptick in activity as a sign that there’s no time like the present.

Several vaccine options are available, including the new , approved by the Food and Drug Administration in .

Seasonal patterns

It’s too early to say for sure that this year’s flu season will be an early one across the entire U.S. or to predict if it will be particularly severe.

As of Sept. 26, the latest date for which data is available, seasonal influenza activity remains , and wastewater surveillance still shows in most states.

However, the number of patients with respiratory infections who were testing positive , suggesting that influenza viruses are beginning to circulate more widely.

In the U.S., influenza typically starts to circulate during the fall and often . Factors such as which flu viruses are spreading, how closely those viruses resemble the ones targeted by the vaccine, and how much immunity exists in the community can all influence the .

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified the 2025-2026 flu season as , with over , 390,000 hospitalizations and up to 81,000 deaths. Flu cases increased in November and .

Health authorities partly attributed the moderately severe season to .

Available flu vaccines

Vaccination provides the best protection against influenza. are available this season.

The CDC has released for this year’s flu season, recommending flu vaccines for most adults and children age 6 months and older. The , the , the and the also recommend flu vaccines for children and adults this year.

– including higher dose and vaccines as well as vaccines containing ingredients that help the body produce a stronger immune response – are available for adults age 65 years and up and are designed to provide stronger immune responses. All are administered as injections.

Additional options include , a nasal spray vaccine approved for people age 2 through 49 – which may be preferable to those who want to avoid a shot.

is a flu vaccine made using mammalian cells rather than eggs that is approved for people 6 months and older. However, people with an egg allergy – even ones produced in eggs.

One new option this year is , the first mRNA-based influenza vaccine, approved by the FDA for adults age 50 and older. Because mFLUSIVA is so new, many vaccination sites may not yet offer it. People interested in receiving this vaccine should check with their local pharmacy, healthcare provider or for availability.

or healthcare provider if you have any questions about what vaccines are best for you and your family.

Special protection

Vaccination is especially important for those 65 years and older, young children, pregnant people, people with chronic medical conditions and those with weakened immune systems. These groups are at from influenza.

Many people who are at higher risk of severe flu are also at higher risk of severe COVID-19, and the virus causing COVID-19 continues to . Updated COVID-19 vaccines became available in September and can be given at the with the flu vaccine.

Because it takes about two weeks for protection to develop after vaccination, getting vaccinated before flu activity becomes widespread provides the best chance of being protected when exposure risk increases.

This year, all three components of the influenza vaccines were the viruses expected to circulate during the 2026-27 flu season.

While influenza vaccine effectiveness , vaccination consistently of influenza illness. If the flu viruses don’t change much over the course of the season, this year’s vaccines should provide protection that is similar to or better than what we’ve seen in recent years.