Experts advise early flu vaccination to cover Michigan's upcoming season

Health officials in Michigan are urging residents to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine as early as September, noting that protection develops about two weeks after injection and lasts through the typical flu season that runs from October to May. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that the vaccine’s effectiveness declines over time, which is why an annual shot is recommended.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has updated this year’s flu vaccines to target the influenza A (H3N2) subclade K virus that circulated last season. The advisory committee approved three egg-based and three cell or recombinant vaccines, including a trivalent formulation covering H1N1, H3N2, and a B/Victoria lineage strain. A new mRNA flu vaccine, mFLUSIVA, has also been authorized for adults 50 and older.

The CDC recommends vaccination for everyone six months and older, with particular emphasis on seniors, people with chronic conditions, young children, and pregnant women. Shots are available at pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and health departments, often at no cost or low cost through insurance.

Flu activity typically peaks between December and February, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and may continue at lower levels into the spring.