Getting Ready for the 2025–2026 Flu Season: What You Need to Know

As we head into the 2025–2026 flu season, it’s important to stay informed and ready, especially when it comes to flu shots. Here’s some important information to know to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy.

Why Get the Flu Vaccine Every Year?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each season, with only a few rare exceptions. It’s the best way to lower your risk of getting sick or having serious complications. The flu vaccine doesn’t just help prevent getting sick, it can also make your illness milder if you do catch the flu.

What’s New This Season

All U.S. flu vaccines for 2025–2026 are trivalent, meaning they protect against three flu viruses. The CDC now recommends single-dose, thimerosal-free flu vaccines for children, pregnant people, and adults. This means you get a single shot without the preservative thimerosal. Recently, the FDA independently chose the strains for this year’s vaccines and says this won’t affect when or how the shots become available.

When to Get Your Flu Shot

The ideal time to get vaccinated is September or October, but if flu viruses are still circulating, getting the vaccine later still helps. It usually takes about two weeks after getting vaccinated for your body to build protection.

Extra Precautions You Can Take

In addition to vaccination, the CDC recommends everyday actions that help stop germs:

Stay home if you’re sick – at least 24 hours after your symptoms improve and you no longer have a fever (without using fever-reducing medicine).
Cover your coughs and sneezes, clean frequently touched surfaces, wash your hands often, and avoid touching your face. Masks can also help reduce the spread.

A Provider’s Perspective

Amy Rongstad, APRN, CNP, who provides care at CCM Health’s Walk-In Clinic (open seven days a week in Montevideo, closed major holidays), encourages patients not to wait when it comes to getting their flu shot. She shared “Flu season can be unpredictable, but getting vaccinated is something you can control. It’s one of the best steps you can take to keep yourself, your family, and our community healthy. Even if you’re young and healthy, the flu can hit hard, and the vaccine lowers your risk of serious illness.”

What You Should Do Now

Talk to your primary care provider to find out which flu vaccine is best for you, especially since options like preservative-free formulations are now available.
Watch CCM Health’s social media closely for updates on when the new flu vaccine doses become available at your local clinics.
Plan for vaccination in early fall, ideally by October, but remember, it’s still helpful even if you get it later.

Getting your flu shot is a smart move to protect yourself and those around you. By getting vaccinated before or during the flu season, and combining that with everyday habits like handwashing, you’re doing your part to keep your community healthy. Stay tuned to CCM Health’s social media, such as Facebook and Instagram, for the latest on vaccine availability and reach out to your healthcare provider with any questions.