Flu season is here, and for many families the question is no longer whether to get vaccinated but when and where. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published its interim clinical considerations for the 2026-27 season on Sept. 1, 2026, and the core advice is familiar: annual flu vaccination is recommended, and most people should aim to get the shot in September or October. If you have not yet scheduled yours, this is the month to do it.

This guide summarizes what CDC’s interim guidance says, who is considered higher risk, how children’s dosing works, and how to find a shot in your community. It is general information, not medical advice, so check with a doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.

What CDC says about the 2026-27 season

CDC describes its guidance as interim and notes that the recommendations from the July 2025 immunization schedule remain in effect for 2026-27, citing legal uncertainties and inquiries. In plain terms, the agency is not announcing a new approach this year. The main points are:

  • Who: Annual vaccination is recommended for all persons who can receive an FDA-licensed vaccine approved for their age.
  • When: Most people who need a single dose should ideally be vaccinated in September or October.
  • What: Vaccines this season are trivalent, meaning they target three viruses: an influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus and a B/Victoria virus.
  • Repeat shots: Revaccination of people already fully vaccinated for the season is not recommended.

CDC’s page does not spell out which strains changed from last year, and we have not independently confirmed the specific virus updates. The FDA publishes the annual composition notice for readers who want those details.

Timing: is it too early or too late?

CDC says July and August are generally not recommended for most groups because protection can fade over the season, especially in older adults. There are exceptions, such as pregnant women in the third trimester, who may be vaccinated earlier to help protect their infants, and children who need two doses.

If you missed the September-October window, you have not missed your chance. CDC notes that vaccination can continue after October as long as flu viruses are circulating and unexpired vaccine is available. Getting vaccinated in November or later is still better than skipping it.

Who is considered higher risk

Everyone eligible is encouraged to get the shot, but CDC highlights certain groups who face a greater chance of serious illness. They include:

  • Children aged 6 through 59 months
  • Adults aged 50 and older
  • People with chronic medical conditions
  • People with weakened immune systems
  • Pregnant women
  • Nursing home residents
  • American Indian and Alaska Native persons
  • People with a body mass index of 40 or higher
  • Children and teens aged 6 months through 18 years who take aspirin or salicylate-containing medicines

CDC also emphasizes vaccination for health care personnel and for household contacts and caregivers of higher-risk people, including infants younger than 6 months, who are too young to be vaccinated themselves.

Adults 65 and older

For people 65 and over, CDC says they should preferentially receive one of three products: a high-dose inactivated vaccine, a recombinant vaccine or an adjuvanted inactivated vaccine. If none of those is available, an age-appropriate alternative should be given rather than going without. In practice, that means older adults should ask when booking whether the pharmacy or clinic carries a senior-specific formulation.

Children: when two doses are needed

Parents of young kids should pay attention to dosing. CDC says children from 6 months through 8 years need two doses, at least four weeks apart, unless they have previously received at least two doses of flu vaccine at least four weeks apart before the preceding July 1. The earlier doses do not have to be from consecutive seasons.

  • Children who need two doses should get the first as soon as possible, and the second should ideally be completed by the end of October.
  • A child who turns 9 between doses still needs both doses if they were 8 when they received the first.
  • Not sure of a child’s history? Ask the pediatrician or check state immunization records.

Which vaccine types are available

Several brands and formats are licensed. According to CDC’s summary, the options include standard-dose shots such as Fluarix, FluLaval and Fluzone for people 6 months and older; Flucelvax, a cell-based vaccine, for 6 months and older; Fluzone High-Dose and Fluad for people 65 and older; Flublok, a recombinant vaccine, for ages 9 and up; and FluMist, a nasal spray, for ages 2 through 49. FluMist is not recommended for pregnant or immunocompromised people, among other restrictions.

CDC also says egg allergy alone does not rule out any age-appropriate flu vaccine. Anyone with a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome within six weeks of a prior flu shot should discuss it with a clinician, since that is listed as a precaution. Flu shots can generally be given at the same visit as other vaccines, in a different injection site.

Where to get vaccinated in your community

Options differ by city, but common places include:

  • Primary care offices and pediatric practices. Often the best choice for young children and people with complex health needs.
  • Retail pharmacies. Many offer walk-in or online appointments, though age limits for children vary by state law.
  • Local and county health departments. Some hold community clinics or sliding-scale services. Check your health department’s website or phone line, since schedules change.
  • Community health centers. Federally qualified health centers may offer low-cost or free vaccination based on income.
  • Workplaces and schools. Some employers and school districts host vaccination events.

Insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan and by state, so it is worth confirming before you go. If you are uninsured, call your local health department and ask about low-cost options. We have not verified specific clinic dates or locations for any individual city.

Practical tips before you go

  • Bring your insurance card and a list of any allergies or recent illnesses.
  • Wear a short-sleeved or loose top for easy access to your upper arm.
  • Mild soreness, tiredness or a low fever for a day or so can occur after vaccination for some people. Contact a clinician for severe or unusual symptoms.
  • If you are sick with a moderate or severe illness, ask whether you should wait.
  • Remember that antiviral flu medications can interfere with the nasal spray vaccine if taken in certain windows, per CDC; a clinician can advise on the right product.

What to know / what to watch next

  • The recommendation: CDC’s interim guidance for 2026-27 calls for annual flu vaccination for everyone eligible, ideally in September or October.
  • It is still worth getting later: Vaccination can continue into the winter while the virus is circulating and vaccine is in date.
  • Kids may need two doses: Check your child’s history, and aim to finish the series by the end of October if you can.
  • Guidance is labeled interim: CDC says it retained earlier recommendations amid legal uncertainty, so keep an eye on CDC and your state health department for any updates.
  • Local flu activity: Your county or state health department typically posts respiratory illness updates through the season; those will show how much flu is circulating where you live.
  • Coming up: Daylight saving time ends Nov. 1, Election Day is Nov. 3, and gatherings around the holidays raise the stakes for protecting older relatives and infants.

Flu vaccination does not guarantee you will avoid illness, but it is widely used to reduce the chance of severe disease and hospitalization. A quick appointment now is one of the simplest things a household can do before winter.

Source: CDC, Interim Clinical Considerations for the Use of Seasonal Influenza Vaccines in the United States, 2026-27 season (published Sept. 1, 2026). This article is general information and not medical advice.