Flu season doesn't care that it's 80 degrees
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Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios
It may still feel like summer outside, but flu season isn't waiting for sweater weather.
Why it matters: The shots take about two weeks to build protection, making October a good time to get vaccinated before holiday gatherings.
State of play: Greater Cincinnati recorded nearly twice as many flu-related hospitalizations last season as in 2024-25, per the Cincinnati Health Department, underscoring what's at stake as another flu season approaches.
- Severe flu cases remain relatively low across Ohio, but that'll likely change as cooler weather drives people indoors and kids settle into the school year.
- Flu vaccination reduces children's risk of dying from the flu by 80%.
The big picture: Flu vaccine distribution has declined nationally for years.
- About 102 million doses had been distributed by this point last season, down from 116 million two years earlier, federal data show.
What they're saying: Shanna Wentz, a CVS pharmacist and district leader in the Cincinnati-Dayton region, tells Axios she's seeing some "vaccine fatigue," including people who assume last year's shot is enough.
Reality check: Flu vaccines are updated annually to keep up with changing strains.
- Can a flu or COVID shot give you the illness it's meant to prevent? "Physically impossible," Wentz says.
- Mild aches, fatigue or fever afterward can be a normal immune response, not an infection from the shot.
How to get one: Flu shots are recommended annually for nearly everyone 6 months and older and are available at most pharmacies, usually at no cost with insurance.
- You can typically schedule ahead and get a COVID-19 or RSV vaccine at the same visit if eligible.
- Local health departments also offer flu shots, typically with sliding-scale fees for uninsured patients.
Go deeper: Flu is showing up earlier this year