When Should You Get Your Flu Shot in Maryland?

Every fall, patients ask us the same two questions: when should I get my flu shot, and does it really matter? The short answers are September or October, and yes. Here is the longer version, updated for the 2026-2027 flu season.

The Best Time: September or October

After a flu shot, your body needs about two weeks to build protection. That protection is strongest in the first few months and slowly fades after that, especially in older adults.

The goal is to be protected before flu starts spreading in your community. So once September arrives, there is no reason to wait. Get your shot as soon as you can, and aim to be done by the end of October, which is when flu usually starts circulating in our part of the country.

Timing matters more than most people think. Last winter, flu hospitalizations in Maryland peaked in the last week of December, well ahead of the season before, which did not peak until February. Maryland health officials have also named the end of October as a good target for finishing your fall vaccines.

Is September Too Early?

No. September is a good time. Where people go wrong is getting the shot in July or August. For most adults who are not pregnant, that is too early, because protection can fade before the season is over and leave you less protected in late winter.

There is one exception. If you know you will not be able to get vaccinated later in the fall because of travel, surgery, a new baby, or a busy stretch at work, an early shot is better than no shot.

If you are pregnant, the timing is a little different. If you are in your third trimester during July or August, getting the shot early is reasonable, because the protection passes to your baby for the first months of life. Earlier in pregnancy, waiting until September or October is usually better.

Not Vaccinated by December? It Is Still Worth It

If you have not had your flu shot by December, get it anyway. No one can predict exactly when a flu season will peak or how long it will last, and late-season surges happen, sometimes from a different flu strain than the one that dominated earlier in the winter. A flu shot is worth getting for as long as flu is going around, which in Maryland often means into spring.

What Is Different About This Year’s Flu Shot

Flu viruses change from year to year, which is why the vaccine changes every year too. For the 2026-2027 season, all three strains in the vaccine were updated. One of those updates targets the H3N2 strain known as subclade K, which spread widely last season and was not a close match for last year’s shot.

If you caught the flu last winter even though you were vaccinated, that mismatch is part of the reason. It is also a good reason not to skip this year’s updated shot.

If You Are 65 or Older, Ask for a Stronger Vaccine

As we get older, the immune system responds less strongly to vaccines. For adults 65 and older, three flu vaccines are preferred because they produce a stronger response: Fluzone High-Dose, Flublok, and Fluad. Any one of the three is a good choice, so there is no need to hunt for a particular brand.

If none of them is available when you come in, do not leave without a flu shot. A standard flu vaccine is far better than no vaccine at all.

Who Should Not Skip It

An annual flu shot is recommended for all adults. It matters most if any of the following apply to you, because these are the people most likely to end up in the hospital with the flu:

• • You are 50 or older

• • You have asthma, COPD, or another lung condition

• • You have heart disease (high blood pressure on its own does not count)

• • You have diabetes

• • You have kidney or liver disease

• • Your immune system is weakened, including by medications such as steroids, chemotherapy, or some treatments for autoimmune conditions

• • You are pregnant (the shot is safe in any trimester)

• • You have severe obesity, meaning a BMI of 40 or higher

• • You live in a nursing home or long-term care facility

It is just as important if you live with or care for someone at higher risk, such as a newborn, an older parent, or someone going through cancer treatment. Your shot helps protect them too.

Has the Flu Shot Advice Changed?

You may have seen news that federal vaccine guidance has been shifting. For adults, the flu shot recommendation has not changed. The CDC has stated that its existing flu vaccine recommendations remain in effect for the 2026-2027 season.

Maryland now also sets its own vaccine recommendations. Under a new state law called the Vax Act, the Maryland Department of Health released its first statewide vaccine schedule in September 2026, and it recommends an annual flu shot for adults. Major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, recommend the same.

Will My Insurance Cover It?

For most of our patients, yes, with nothing out of pocket:

• • Medicare Part B covers one flu shot each flu season at no cost to you.

• • Maryland Medicaid covers the flu vaccine.

• • Under the Vax Act, insurance plans regulated by the State of Maryland must cover state-recommended vaccines, including the flu shot, with no out-of-pocket cost.

Some large employers run their own self-funded health plans, which follow federal rules instead of Maryland law. Most of these still cover the flu shot at no cost, but if you are not sure, call the member services number on the back of your insurance card.

What to Expect After Your Flu Shot

Most people have no problems at all, or only mild ones that pass quickly. Here is what is common, what is less common, and what is rare:

• • A sore arm. This is the most common side effect. The spot where you got the shot may be sore, red, or a little swollen, usually for about two days.

• • Feeling run down. Less often, people get a low-grade fever, muscle aches, a headache, or tiredness. These usually last a day or two.

• • Shoulder pain that does not settle. Rarely, the shoulder becomes painful and stiff within a few days of the shot. This is different from ordinary soreness, so call us if the pain is getting worse instead of better, or if you have trouble lifting your arm.

• • A severe allergic reaction. This is very rare. Call 911 right away for trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or hives spreading across your body.

Mild aches and a low-grade temperature are signs of your immune system responding to the vaccine. They are not the flu.

Common Questions About the Flu Shot

Can the flu shot give me the flu?

No. Flu shots do not contain live virus, so they cannot give you the flu. Any achiness afterward is your immune system at work, and it is far milder and shorter than the flu itself.

I have a runny nose and a low-grade fever. Should I still get the shot?

Usually, yes. A mild illness like a runny nose, even with a low-grade temperature, is not a reason to put off your flu shot. If you are moderately or severely sick, wait until your symptoms have cleared and then come in.

One caution: a fever can also be an early sign of COVID or the flu itself. If that seems possible, take a home COVID test or call us first. If you have COVID, wait until you have recovered before getting vaccinated.

I already had the flu this season. Do I still need the shot?

Yes, once you have recovered. Getting sick with one flu strain does not protect you from the others, and this year’s vaccine covers three. Because late-season surges are common, the shot is still worth getting for the rest of the season.

Can the flu vaccine cause autism?

No. Many large, well-designed studies have found no link between vaccines and autism. That includes studies of the MMR vaccine and of thimerosal, a preservative that was the focus of past concerns. The single-dose prefilled syringes used for most flu shots contain no thimerosal at all, and large studies of flu vaccination during pregnancy have not found a link to autism in children either.

So why does the worry persist? Signs of autism often become noticeable in a child’s second year of life, which is around the same age children receive several routine vaccines. Because the two happen at about the same time, it can look as if one caused the other, even though early signs of autism can often be seen before those vaccines are given.

You may come across a federal government webpage that changed its wording on vaccines and autism in late 2025. The research itself has not changed, and major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, continue to state clearly that there is no link.

I am allergic to eggs. Can I still get vaccinated?

Yes. People with an egg allergy of any severity can receive any flu vaccine that is right for their age and health, with no extra precautions beyond the usual ones for any vaccine. If you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to a flu shot itself, tell us before your visit so we can choose the right option.

Can I get my flu shot and COVID shot on the same day?

Yes. The flu shot can be given at the same visit as other vaccines, including COVID-19 and RSV vaccines if you are due for them. They can go in different arms.

What about the nasal spray I can take at home?

FluMist, the nasal spray flu vaccine, is approved for adults 18 through 49 to give to themselves at home through a program called FluMist Home. It is not an option if you are 50 or older, pregnant, or have a weakened immune system. If you have asthma, diabetes, or heart or lung disease, talk with us first, because a flu shot is usually the better choice.

If You Get the Flu Anyway

No vaccine is perfect. If you come down with a sudden fever, body aches, chills, cough, and exhaustion, call us. Prescription antiviral medicine works best when it is started early, ideally within the first two days of symptoms, and it matters most for people in the higher-risk groups above. We keep time open every day for same-day sick visits.

Some symptoms need care right away rather than an appointment, including trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure that does not go away, new confusion, or a fever or cough that gets better and then comes back worse. Our guide to choosing between your doctor, urgent care, and the ER covers the full list of warning signs.

The Bottom Line

Plan on September or October, aim to be done by the end of October, and if you are 65 or older, ask for one of the stronger vaccines. If December comes and you still have not had it, get it then. If you are already coming in this fall for your annual physical or any other visit, ask for your flu shot while you are here. New and returning patients can book an appointment online.