Flu vaccination can still protect during late winter and spring, Fox 104.9 says

Flu vaccination can still provide protection in late winter or spring while influenza circulates, according to The Fox 104.9. The outlet’s guidance says it is almost never too late to get vaccinated, while identifying September or October as the usual preferred time to receive a shot before flu season begins.

The report says influenza season lasts from October through May in most areas of the United States. It typically reaches its highest activity from December through February, and the source says the virus continues circulating until late May in most parts of the country. On that basis, it says a shot received in late winter or early spring can still provide protection.

The vaccine is described as protecting both the vaccinated person and people around them from flu illness. The source also says vaccination can reduce the risk of severe symptoms that could require hospitalization. It adds that the shot is recommended for nearly everyone older than 6 months.

The Fox 104.9 advises getting vaccinated before the season begins, usually in September or October, and says immunity takes about two weeks to develop. That timing is presented alongside its guidance that vaccination later in the season can still provide protection while influenza is circulating.

The report cites a 40% to 60% reduction in the risk of a flu-related healthcare visit in seasons when the vaccine matches circulating influenza well. The figure is tied to that qualification, rather than presented as a result that applies to every season.

The outlet also says that, before 2023, people with egg allergies needed special precautions to get a flu shot, but that the CDC no longer recommends those precautions. It notes that a sore arm can affect exercise choices and advises avoiding alcohol for a day or so.

The account’s central guidance is that vaccination remains an option during the season, including late winter and spring, while the virus is still circulating.