What to know for the 2024-2025 flu season

Flu season comes around every fall and lasts through the winter. Each year, new strains of flu circulate in the community. And the flu vaccine is updated and tailored annually to protect against the latest flu strains. That's why every family member over 6-months-old needs to get a flu shot every year.

Preeti Sharma, M.D., and Tanya Martinez, M.D., pulmonologists at Children's Health℠ and Associate Professors at UT Southwestern, share their predictions for this year's flu season and how your family can prepare.

"As COVID‑19 continues to circulate as well as other respiratory viruses including RSV, it's important to prevent as many contagious illnesses as we can," Dr. Sharma says. "The most effective way to protect against the flu is to get a flu shot every year."

When does flu season 2024-2025 start?

Although the influenza virus can circulate year-round, cases typically start to appear in October. Flu season tends to peak between December and March and end in May.

What can we expect for this year's flu season?

Each year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a committee that recommends what specific strains of flu viruses the vaccine needs to protect us from. This is based on which types of flu are most commonly circulating. To do this, the committee looks at data collected at over 144 national influenza centers in over 114 countries.

This year's committee has recommended that 2024-2025 U.S. flu vaccines be a three-component (trivalent) vaccine that contains:

• A(H1N1)

• A(H3N2)

• B/Victoria-lineage

When will the 2024-2025 flu vaccine be available?

The 2024-2025 flu vaccines are now available. It can take up to two weeks for antibodies (proteins that protect you from harmful substances) to develop after you get your flu vaccine. So you'll want to make sure you and your kids get the vaccine early in the flu season.

"But even if you miss the early window, you and your kids should still get the vaccine. It's better late than never, especially because flu season can sometimes stretch on for months," Dr. Sharma says.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and older. It's especially critical for your family to get vaccinated if someone in your home has a high risk of life-threatening flu complications.

Check out our flu resource guide to find out where you and your children can get a flu shot near you.

How effective will this year's flu vaccine be?

Health experts aimed to create the most effective vaccine possible for this year's flu season based on the strains of the flu that are currently circulating in the Southern Hemisphere.

"This same approach has been used for the past few years, and has worked quite well," Dr. Sharma says. "Additionally, the current formulations can be given to people with egg allergies without any special precautions, because they have been made without the specific protein that people with egg allergies are allergic to."

The flu shot may not prevent you from getting the flu entirely, but you are less likely to get the flu if you are vaccinated. Also, getting a flu shot can significantly reduce the severity of the flu and prevent the worst complications.

"Every year, we care for children who require serious medical treatment. A flu shot can prevent this," Dr. Sharma says.

Learn more from the CDC about how flu shots protect people from getting very sick, including children, pregnant women and people with chronic conditions.

Can you get the flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines?

Yes, you and your children can get your flu shot at the same time as other vaccines. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

How can I keep my family healthy during flu season?

The most important step you can take to stay healthy is to make sure everyone in your family (age 6 months and older) gets the flu shot.

You can also protect your family from the flu if you:

• Practice good hand hygiene by washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze

• Avoid close contact with sick people

• Stay home when you are sick

• Clean and disinfect surfaces regularly

If your child develops flu-like symptoms, get in touch with your family doctor or pediatrician.

"If anyone in your household feels sick, keep track of symptoms and take steps to reduce the spread of any illness," says Dr. Martinez.

Learn more

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