As fall approaches, the kids are back in school, football is back on TV and the temperatures will (hopefully) come down soon. Unfortunately, fall also means flu season is upon us once again.
Flu is a serious illness that will make you sick for at least a week – fever, aches, chills, congestion, sore throat and severe fatigue are all common symptoms. For older adults or those with certain underlying health conditions, the fu can be especially dangerous
Here’s the good news – you can significantly decrease your risk of getting the flu with one simple step: getting an annual fu vaccine.
Flu Statistics
A look at flu statistics from last season demonstrates how prevalent and serious the flu can be. The most recent flu season saw significantly higher rates of flu than in recent years. Preliminary estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that between October 1, 2024 – May17, 2025, the United States saw:
- 47 million – 82 million flu cases
- 610,000 – 1.3 million hospitalizations due to flu
- 27,000 – 130,000 deaths due to the flu
As the data show, flu makes a lot of people sick every year. For some, it can be very dangerous.
Get Vaccinated!
The CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics and Privia Medical Group North Texas (PMGNTX) recommend everyone age 6 months or older receive an annual flu vaccine. Flu shots are widely available by early September.
“Flu season generally runs from October to May and peaks in December, January and February,” says PMGNTX President Dr. Taylor Bradley, a Fort Worth OB/GYN. “We advise our patients get a flu shot in September, because it takes a couple of weeks for the vaccine to be completely effective. A September vaccine provides the best protection by the time flu season arrives in October.”
While everyone should get a flu vaccine, it is especially important that people who are at high risk for getting the flu or at high risk for serious flu-related complications do so, including:
- Children older than 6 months and younger than 5 years
- Adults age 65 and older
- Women who are pregnant
- People who live in nursing homes or long-term care facilities
- Health care workers
In addition, people with certain health conditions are at greater risk, including those with asthma, heart disease, kidney or liver disorders, a compromised immune system and obesity. People with these conditions are more susceptible to flu-related complications, including pneumonia, bronchitis and sinus infections.
Additionally, since infants younger than 6 months are too young to receive the flu vaccine, it is imperative that anyone who is around an infant be vaccinated.
You can usually get your flu vaccine at your primary care provider’s (PCP) office, or you can simply go to your neighborhood pharmacy to get your shot.
Does the Flu Vaccine Work?
Yes! While it is not a guarantee that you will not get the flu, the vaccine reduces your chances of getting it. While vaccinated people sometimes still get the flu, they experience less severe symptoms and a shorter duration of the illness compared to people who do not receive the vaccine.
According to the CDC, vaccination lessens the likelihood of flu by as much as 40% – 60%, depending on the year. Vaccine efficacy varies year to year, due to how well the vaccine formula is matched to the flu virus strains most prevalent that season.
The flu vaccine has been updated for 2025-2026 to protect against the strands that scientists believe will be most common this season. All U.S. flu vaccines for this year are expected to be trivalent, meaning they are formulated to protect against three different flu viruses:
- A (H1N1)
- A (H3N2)
- B/Victoria
How Does Flu Spread?
Flu spreads from person to person much the same way as other respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold. When someone with the flu sneezes, coughs or breathes too closely around others, respiratory droplets containing the flu virus can easily enter the mouth or nose of another person.
“In addition to getting an annual flu vaccine, you should take common-sense precautions, such as washing your hands frequently with soap and water,” explains Dr. Charles Carlton, an internal medicine physician in Fort Worth. “Use hand sanitizer when you can’t wash your hands right away and avoid touching your face and rubbing your eyes. Always cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough to prevent the spread of germs.”
“One way flu does not spread is through the vaccine,” adds Dr. Bradley. “The vaccine does not contain the flu virus, so it’s a complete myth that the shot will give you the flu. You might feel a little tired after getting your flu shot – that just means the vaccine is working by super-charging your immune system.”
What If I Get the Flu?
Tell-tale symptoms of the flu include:
- High fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher)
- Body aches
- Chills
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Nasal congestion
- Sore throat
These symptoms tend to come on suddenly – if this happens to you, see your doctor right away.
Your PCP can test for the flu and if you have it, prescribe antiviral medication that may help you recover more quickly. These medications can help lessen and shorten the symptoms, but they generally work best within 48 hours of the onset of the flu.
“Whether you are on antiviral medication or not, the best thing you can do is get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids,” says Dr. Carlton. “Rest is the best thing for the body to recover and fight off the flu virus. You’re also highly contagious when you have the flu, so you need to stay home until you are better.”
Other Important Fall Vaccines
The flu is not the only illness you can protect yourself from in the fall and winter:
COVID-19
COVID-19 is still a health threat and flares up in the population periodically. The health guidance the last couple of years has been that adults should receive a COVID vaccine each fall to protect against active variants. CDC guidance for the 2025-2026 should be available soon.
RSV
RSV produces cold-like symptoms, such as runny nose, coughing, sneezing and fever. It may also cause wheezing and loss of appetite. Most RSV infections go away within a week or two.
While RSV usually only causes mild symptoms, it can lead to more serious illness, including bronchiolitis – the inflammation of the lungs’ small airways – and pneumonia. RSV can be especially dangerous for older adults.
An RSV vaccine is recommended for adults age 75 and older, and for adults 50 and over who have certain underlying health conditions that increase their risk for complications from RSV. The CDC recommends this as a single-dose vaccine, not annually like the flu shot.
Protect Yourself this Fall
Vaccines provide us with essential protection. The flu, COVID-19 and RSV all cause illnesses that can make us feel bad for several days – and in some cases, cause more severe and dangerous complications.
Getting the flu shot and new COVID vaccine when it becomes available, — plus the RSV vaccine, if you’re eligible –- are some of the best ways to protect yourself from illness this winter.
This article has been reviewed and approved by a panel of Privia Medical Group North Texas physicians.
This article contains information sourced from:
