88 Degrees and Counting Down to Flu Season

It’s going to be 88 degrees in the suburbs of Chicago today. But believe it or not, winter is supposedly just around the corner.

So what better time to talk about fall and winter viruses and the vaccines available to protect us? Turn on your air conditioners, grab an iced drink, and let’s talk about what’s coming our way. Because apparently, our immune systems need to start preparing for winter while the rest of us are still sweating through summer.

First up, the infamous flu vaccine.

Flu Vaccine

Even though it feels like beach weather right now, flu activity is slowly on the rise in parts of the country. The annual flu vaccine is recommended for nearly everyone 6 months of age and older.

Let’s talk numbers for a moment. During the 2024–2025 flu season, the CDC estimated that there were approximately 51 million cases of influenza, more than 700,000 hospitalizations, and 45,000 deaths. Final numbers for the most recent flu season are not yet available, but it was classified as moderately severe, with estimates ranging from 31 million to 57 million cases.

For children receiving the flu vaccine for the first time, two doses are generally needed, given at least four weeks apart. After that, most people need just one dose each year. Adults 65 and older have additional options, including high-dose vaccines designed to produce a stronger immune response. The best time to get vaccinated is generally in the fall, before flu activity really ramps up.

And for those of you who would rather avoid a needle, there’s also a nasal spray vaccine for eligible people ages 2 through 49. Sounds great, right? No needle! However, unlike the standard flu shots, the nasal spray contains the live flu virus, so expect some flu symptoms from the spray.

The injectable flu vaccines, on the other hand, do not contain live influenza virus capable of causing the flu. You may experience some fatigue, muscle aches, or a sore arm afterward. That’s your immune system responding to the vaccine, not you coming down with the flu.

So why do people insist that the flu vaccine makes them sick?

Honestly, sometimes it’s just bad timing. You get vaccinated, go about your life, and then develop a fever or a cough a few days later. It’s easy to blame the vaccine, but you may already have been exposed to another virus, or even the flu itself, around the time you got your shot. And while mild side effects from the vaccine can happen, the important thing to remember is that the flu shot CANNOT give you the flu.

So why should you get vaccinated?

I find that people who have actually had the flu tend to understand the answer. The flu is not your garden-variety cold virus. I’ve had it twice in my life, and both times I was completely wiped out for a good ten days. The flu does not mess around. Even if you aren’t at high risk of hospitalization or death, spending days in bed feeling absolutely miserable is not my idea of a good time (and trust me-  I usually love laying in my bed, doing nothing).

And can you still get the flu after being vaccinated?

YES. You can. The flu vaccine is NOT Yoda’s force field (But sign me up for that shot when it gets developed!). Its effectiveness varies from season to season. But—and this is an important but—vaccination can reduce your risk of getting the flu and more importantly, reduce your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

It may not prevent every infection, but it can make a meaningful difference in how sick you become. And that matters.

The bottom line? Get your flu vaccine.

You’re helping protect yourself, but you’re also helping protect the people around you, especially those at higher risk of serious complications, including infants, older adults, and people with certain medical conditions.

You’re also helping reduce the strain on our communities, from hospitals and clinics to schools and workplaces.

And really, if we can reduce our chances of spending ten miserable days in bed while also protecting the people we love (and don’t love), why wouldn’t we?

Later this week, we will talk about the COVID vaccine and the RSV vaccine.

ALSO- later this week the temperature is supposed to drop so you’ll need to turn off your AC, grab a blanket, and a hot drink. 

Chicago weather- the only thing that changes more than my teenagers’ moods.