Health experts urge influenza vaccinations as flu season begins

Medical experts and physicians are urging Americans to receive influenza vaccinations as the flu season begins in October. Health organizations recommend that nearly everyone aged six months and older get vaccinated to mitigate the annual public health burden, which can result in hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths in the United States.

New vaccine options are available this year, including Moderna’s mFlusiva, an mRNA-based vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration for individuals aged 50 and older. Studies indicated this shot could be significantly more effective against symptomatic illness in adults aged 50 to 64 compared to standard vaccines. Additionally, the nasal spray FluMist remains an option for eligible individuals between the ages of 2 and 49.

Due to a court battle involving the CDC’s advisory panel, several major medical groups—including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists—have issued their own independent vaccination guidelines. Experts suggest that getting vaccinated in September or October is ideal, though they emphasize that getting the shot as soon as it is convenient is beneficial.