Fort Wayne, Ind. – Flu activity is beginning to climb across the United States, prompting public‑health experts to advise Americans to get vaccinated now rather than wait until later in the fall. The increase was noted in wastewater surveillance and in a rise in the percentage of patients with respiratory infections testing positive for influenza toward the end of September.

Why Early Vaccination Matters

Annette Regan, an adjunct associate professor of epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, explained that rising activity in parts of the country is a clear signal to protect oneself early. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) typically recommends flu shots by the end of October, it is still too early to say whether the 2026‑27 season will start earlier than usual or be especially severe.

Recent Flu Season Context

The 2025‑2026 flu season was classified by the CDC as moderately severe, resulting in more than 32 million illnesses, roughly 390 000 hospitalizations and up to 81 000 deaths. Low vaccination rates and a poor match between the vaccine and circulating viruses were cited as contributing factors.

Vaccination Options for 2026‑27

The CDC’s interim guidance continues to recommend flu vaccination for most adults and children six months of age and older. Major medical organizations—including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America—also endorse vaccination for children and adults.

Several products are available:

• Standard flu shots remain a reliable choice for most people.
• Enhanced vaccines for adults 65 and older, such as higher‑dose formulations, adjuvanted vaccines and cell‑based vaccines, are designed to produce a stronger immune response.
• FluMist, a nasal spray approved for ages two through 49, offers an injection‑free alternative for those who prefer it.
• Flucelvax, a cell‑based vaccine approved for anyone six months and older, provides an option that does not rely on chicken‑egg manufacturing.
• mFLUSIVA, a newly approved mRNA‑based influenza vaccine, is authorized for adults 50 and older. Modeled after the technology used in some COVID‑19 vaccines, it may not yet be stocked at every pharmacy or clinic.

People with egg allergies can receive any recommended flu vaccine, including those produced using eggs, according to Regan.

How to Find a Vaccine

Those interested in the mRNA product should check with local pharmacies or health‑care providers for availability. Moderna’s online vaccine locator can also help locate potential sites.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Vaccination is especially important for groups at higher risk of severe flu complications: adults 65 and older, young children, pregnant individuals, people with chronic medical conditions and those with weakened immune systems. Many in these groups also face increased risk from COVID‑19, which continues to circulate.

Updated COVID‑19 vaccines became available in September and can be administered during the same visit as a flu shot, allowing eligible individuals to protect themselves against both respiratory viruses without separate appointments.

Looking Ahead

Although it is still early to predict the overall severity of the 2026‑27 flu season, the upward trend in activity underscores the importance of planning ahead. With a range of options—from traditional injections and nasal spray to enhanced and newly approved mRNA vaccines—health experts encourage families to discuss choices with their doctors and secure vaccination early, before influenza spreads more widely.

Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.