Is It Too Late to Get a Flu Shot?

It is not too late to get a flu shot as long as the flu virus is still circulating in your community. Since the flu can sometimes continue to spread through April (and sometimes even May), this means you can usually still get a flu shot well into the spring months.

Although experts recommend getting a flu shot before the flu season begins, you will still get some protection from the flu if you don't get your shot until late in the season.

When Is It Too Late?

The CDC recommends getting vaccinated early in the season, but vaccination can still be beneficial if you wait. As long as your healthcare provider is still offering the flu vaccine, it is not too late to get it. This means you can still get a flu shot in January, February, or even in the spring.

Can You Get Vaccinated After Exposure to the Flu?

Getting a flu vaccine immediately after you've been exposed to the flu may not help you avoid becoming ill. This is because the incubation period for influenza is shorter than the time it takes your body to develop antibodies. However, getting the vaccine can help protect you against other strains of the flu, so don't avoid vaccination if you've already had the flu this year.

If you think you've been exposed to the flu and are unvaccinated, ask your healthcare provider about antiviral medications such as Tamiflu (oseltamivir). This medicine could help prevent illness.

The Best Time to Get Vaccinated

September and October are the best months to get vaccinated for influenza. This will allow plenty of time for your immune system to create antibodies against the flu before the virus starts circulating in your community. Ideally, the CDC says you should be vaccinated against the flu every year by the end of October.

Early vaccination—in July or August—is not recommended, especially if you are over 65 or in the first or second trimester of pregnancy. This is because immunity wanes over time and getting vaccinated early may mean you won't be protected through the end of the flu season.

Exceptions to this advice include children who need two doses of the vaccine, since the second dose is generally given four weeks after the first. Women in the third trimester of pregnancy may also consider an early vaccine to help protect their infants in the first few months of life.

If you didn't have time to get vaccinated during September or October, if the flu shot wasn't available in your area, or if you decided not to get vaccinated but then changed your mind, a flu shot can still help protect you for the remainder of the season. Keep in mind that it takes two weeks for your body to produce the antibodies you need to protect you against the flu.

Summary

As long as the flu is still circulating in your community, it is not too late to get a flu shot. Ideally, you should try to get vaccinated before the end of October. If you missed that window, however, you can still get some protection from the flu even if you get vaccinated late in the season.