It’s Not Too Late: National Influenza Vaccination Week Reminds Us to Get Protected

Updated on December 5th, 2025

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Written and medically reviewed by Dorcas Morak, Pharm.D

Even as winter sets in, it’s not too late to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu. National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) — observed December 6–12, 2025 — is a nationwide reminder that flu season continues well into spring. Getting vaccinated now still offers meaningful protection.

Each year, influenza leads to millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and tens of thousands of deaths in the United States. The CDC estimates that flu vaccines reduce the risk of illness by about 40 % and hospitalizations by 60 % when well-matched to circulating strains. Even a late-season flu shot helps protect through spring and shields those at greatest risk.

Who Is Most at Risk of Severe Flu?

While anyone can get the flu, the following groups are most vulnerable to serious complications:

Young children, especially those under 5 years old
Adults 65 and older
Pregnant individuals
People with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, COPD, or weakened immune systems
Residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities Infants under 6 months cannot receive a flu shot, so protecting those around them through vaccination is especially important.

Which Influenza Vaccines Are Available for 2025-2026?

For the 2025–2026 flu season, vaccines are designed to protect against the four most likely circulating strains:

A/H1N1
A/H3N2
B/Victoria lineage
B/Yamagata lineage (in quadrivalent vaccines)

These updated vaccines are available in several formulations:

Egg-based vaccines (e.g., Fluzone®, Afluria®) – the most common formulations
Cell-cultured vaccines (e.g., Flucelvax®) – produced without eggs, reducing egg-adapted changes
Recombinant vaccines (e.g., Flublok®) – ideal for those with egg allergies
High-dose and adjuvanted vaccines (e.g., Fluzone High-Dose®, Fluad®) – designed for adults 65 and older to boost immune response

It takes about two weeks after vaccination for protection to develop. While getting vaccinated in early fall is best, it’s never too late — protection later in the season can still prevent serious illness.

Common Side Effects and Safety

If you do catch the flu, antiviral medications can shorten recovery time and reduce the risk of complications — especially if started within 48 hours of symptom onset.

Current antiviral options include:

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) – oral capsule or liquid formulation
Baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza®) – single-dose oral tablet
Zanamivir (Relenza®) – inhaled powder (for patients without respiratory issues)
Peramivir (Rapivab®) – intravenous treatment, typically used in hospitals

For relief of mild symptoms, over-the-counter (OTC) medications may help:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) – for fever and body aches
Guaifenesin (Mucinex®) – to loosen mucus
Dextromethorphan (Delsym®, Robitussin DM®) – for cough suppression
Saline sprays or lozenges – to ease congestion and sore throat Always check with a healthcare provider or pharmacist before combining medications, especially if you take prescriptions for chronic conditions.

Prevention Beyond the Vaccine

In addition to vaccination, you can lower your flu risk by:

Washing hands frequently or using alcohol-based sanitizer
Avoiding close contact with sick individuals
Covering coughs and sneezes with tissues or elbows
Staying home when sick to prevent spreading the virus
Disinfecting high-touch surfaces regularly

Simple habits like these help protect both you and your community.

How to Save on Flu Vaccines and Medications

Most insurance plans — including Medicare and Medicaid — cover the flu shot at no cost. However, uninsured or under-insured individuals may still face out-of-pocket expenses for vaccines or antiviral prescriptions.

The RxLess® Assurance Plan helps make flu prevention and treatment more affordable by showing real-time prices at over 70,000 pharmacies nationwide. Simply: