Every year as flu season approaches, pharmacies and clinics start encouraging patients to get their flu shots. While it is essential to protect yourself against influenza, the timing of when you get your vaccine plays an important role in how well it protects you—especially if you don’t have a robust immune system.

Why Not Too Early?

The flu vaccine provides the strongest protection for about six months after it’s administered. For healthy individuals, that usually covers the bulk of the flu season. But for older adults, people with chronic illnesses, or those with weaker immune systems, the vaccine’s effectiveness may wear off sooner.

In recent years, some of the more severe flu waves didn’t peak until late winter or early spring (March–April). That means if you got your shot too early—say in late August or early September—you may have less protection when flu activity is still strong later in the season.

What the Studies Say

Several studies have shown that vaccine effectiveness can wane over time, especially in older adults:

• A study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that flu vaccine effectiveness can decline by 6–11% per month after vaccination in certain populations.
• Research in The Journal of Infectious Diseases highlighted that early vaccination (before September) was linked with reduced protection later in the flu season compared to those vaccinated in October or November.

This is why experts recommend aligning your flu shot closer to when flu season typically ramps up—early to mid-fall (late September through October).

Our Recommendation

At our pharmacy, we encourage patients to wait until the beginning of fall to get vaccinated against the flu. This way, your protection lasts through the peak flu months and into early spring.

When I used to work for one of the major chain pharmacies, management would push us to start giving flu shots as early as August. As pharmacists, many of us knew this wasn’t ideal for patient protection, but we had to balance patient care with corporate pressure. At Atlas Meds Pharmacy, we don’t face those same conflicts—we have our laser focus on what’s best for you. That’s why we strongly recommend sticking to the fall timeline for your flu shot.

That said, we also know some people worry they’ll forget. If you’re someone who tends to say, “I’ll just take it as soon as I see it,” or if you want a reminder, let us know. We can schedule a call to check in and remind you when it’s the right time. And remember—getting the flu shot early is still better than not getting it at all.

There are a couple of other exceptions:

• Traveling early: If you’ll be traveling in late summer or early fall and won’t have access to vaccination, getting it earlier makes sense.
• Limited access: If you’re unsure you’ll be able to get your shot later in the season, earlier is still better than skipping it entirely.

Otherwise, waiting until fall ensures you’re covered for the entire flu season.

Take Action

Protect yourself and your loved ones this flu season:

Contact us at Atlas Meds Pharmacy—we’ll help schedule your flu vaccination at the right time.

Plan to get your flu shot in September or October.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have special health concerns.