As we get deeper into the fall and head toward winter, you might find yourself wondering if you've left it too late to get your annual flu shot.
Great news: November isn’t too late to get a flu shot!
While getting your flu shot before the end of October is ideal, getting it in November can still provide significant protection for yourself and those around you.
When is the Best Time to Get a Flu Shot?
Timing matters, but it isn’t everything.
While the annual flu season is officially measured globally from one October to the next, the virus circulates the most between October and the early spring, sometimes remaining common throughout April and even as late as May, with the peak usually coming between December and February.
So, the best time to get a flu shot is before the virus is circulating widely, which is where the typical guidance to get a vaccination before the end of October comes from. But given the actual peak doesn't come until December, November certainly isn't too late to get your flu shot.
Why Should You Get a Flu Shot?
A flu shot will protect you against several strains of the virus, effectively protecting you against multiple viruses in a single shot. While flu vaccines are formulated based on the most common strains expected to circulate during the peak months, the virus can and typically does mutate significantly during the season, with those newly identified strains often being incorporated into next year's vaccine.
But that doesn't mean flu shots are ineffective. You don't know which strains of the virus you'll come into contact with, and even if you acquire the flu after being vaccinated, you’ll typically experience milder symptoms for a shorter time and be at a lower risk of experiencing complications.
When is it Too Late for a Flu Shot?
It’s rarely too late to get a flu shot. Earlier is always better, but even if you wait until January, you can still get substantial benefits, especially if November and December are mild and temperatures don't drop until the New Year.
And even if the weather is more predictable, the behavior of the flu virus often won’t be, and cases might not peak until later in winter or even early spring.
It typically takes between 10 and 14 days for a flu shot to work, so even if you didn’t get it until the first week of January, you would still have significant protection for most of the expected peak season.
So, Can You Get a Flu Shot Anytime?
Pretty much. While it is most commonly available before and during the winter, when flu circulation and illnesses are at their highest, you can get a flu shot all year round. However, you’re unlikely to feel the full benefits of getting a flu shot if you wait until June or July, as it’ll almost be time for the new vaccine to be rolled out!
How Effective is the Flu Shot?
A study conducted in the summer of 2024 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted our earlier point about the effectiveness of your flu shot is based mainly on how similar or different the vaccine is in comparison to the flu viruses in circulation or how much the virus mutates during the season.
The CDC found that flu shots are 86% effective in healthy adults against “laboratory-confirmed flu,” but only 10% effective against all respiratory illnesses in the same population and season.
Does That Mean a Flu Shot Isn't Worth It?
Not at all. There are dozens of respiratory illnesses circulating at any given time, from potentially severe conditions like COVID-19 (which has its own vaccine) to many like the common cold that you'll acquire and recover from without ever really realizing you were ill.
But perhaps the most vital finding in the CDC's study was that even when the flu vaccine turns out to be significantly different from those strains in circulation or several new strains develop, it can still reduce the risk of illness and complications from flu by up to 30%.
And remember that even if you still get the flu, getting a vaccine means you're more likely to experience milder symptoms for a shorter time.
Remember to Stock Up on Over-the-Counter Flu Remedies!
While it’s definitely worth getting a flu shot in November – or even later – stocking up on over-the-counter flu remedies is a must, too, so you can deal with any symptoms you develop even quicker.
Here are the top products from each category in our Cough, Cold & Flu range.
- Caplets, Gel Caps, & Tablets– These Vicks Multi-Symptom Relief LiquiCaps can be taken in doses of two caps up to four times a day and provide powerful relief against all the common symptoms of flu and common colds.
- Dissolvables – If you struggle to swallow tablets, or you’re suffering from such a sore throat that you can’t face doing it, this Daytime Severe Cold Relief Powder is an effective honey and lemon hot liquid therapy that is just as much a cozy hug as it is a solution to your flu symptoms.
- Most of our Drops & Lozenges specifically help you deal with a sore throat, with various product types and flavors depending on how you want to manage your symptoms. These Maximum Strength Sore Throat Pain Relief Lozenges can be taken every couple of hours to provide you with all-day relief from the misery of a scratchy or swollen throat.
- Among our Liquid Remedies, this Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough for Adults is specifically formulated to help relieve your cough so you can get a better night’s sleep, which is so vital in helping you deal with your symptoms.
- Finally, our Ointments & Rubs contain a broad range of analgesics to aid decongestion as well as ease aches and pains from flu and colds. This Mentholatum Topical Analgesic Ointment is suitable for anyone over two years old, and you can apply it up to four times a day.
Get Your Flu Shot, Even in November (or Later!)
While a flu shot won't give you 100% protection against illness, even at its "least" effective, you're reducing your risk of falling ill by as much as 30%. And that's without even going into the benefits and protection getting your vaccination can bring to anyone you come into contact with who may be considered vulnerable, including children, older people, and those with compromised immune systems.
Take action now! Book your flu shot, stock up on essential over-the-counter flu remedies, and help keep yourself, your loved ones, and everyone you come into contact with safe and healthy over the winter months.
