Flu Season is Here: What you need to know to protect yourself in 2025

By. R. L. Felipe Lobelo, MD, PhD, FAHA, Kaiser Permanente of Georgia

As summer draws to a close, Georgians are embracing the impending change of season. Amid the excitement, it’s easy to overlook one of fall’s less appealing aspects, the beginning of flu season.

As of August 2025, national flu activity remains low, with just 0.4% of lab-tested samples positive for influenza. In Georgia, while flu activity remains minimal, influenza-like illness (ILI) activity is starting to increase in the last 3 weeks going from 1.1% to 2.8%.

The 2024-2025 flu season was notably high-severity, with the highest cumulative hospitalization rate since 2010–11, The CDC reported a total of 37 million infections, 480,000 hospitalizations, and 21,000 deaths nationwide. Tragically, 278 pediatric deaths were recorded—the highest for a non-pandemic season since 2004. Among eligible children, 90% of these deaths occurred in those not fully vaccinated.

Looking Ahead: The 2025-2026 Season Outlook

For the upcoming season, flu vaccines have been updated to target the main strains expected to circulate, H1N1, H3N2, and B/Victoria. All vaccines offered will protect against these three groups. With Georgia seeing higher and earlier flu activity than usual, getting vaccinated is especially important this year to help protect yourself and the community.

Game-Changing Vaccine Updates

The biggest news for flu prevention is the FDA approval of FluMist nasal spray vaccine for self- or caregiver administration. Starting with the 2025-2026 season, people aged 18-49 can administer the vaccine to themselves, while caregivers 18 and older can give it to children aged 2-17. This breakthrough makes flu vaccination more accessible and convenient than ever before.

Additionally, Flublok, the recombinant influenza vaccine, has been approved for children as young as 9 years old after being previously limited to adults 18 and over.

Vaccine Supply and Accessibility

Manufacturers project supplying up to 154 million doses of flu vaccine for the 2025-2026 season. Most vaccines will be preservative-free or contain reduced preservatives, addressing safety concerns for pregnant women and children.

The CDC continues to recommend single-dose, thimerosal-free formulations for children, pregnant women, and adults.

Most insurance plans cover flu vaccination as preventive care at no cost and programs like Vaccines for Children (VFC) provide free vaccines to eligible families. Providers like Kaiser Permanente make vaccines available at no additional cost during doctor visits or at flu shot locations.

Who's Most at Risk?

The most vulnerable populations remain unchanged but deserve special attention:

• Children under 5, especially those under 2 years old

• Adults 65 and older (who had the highest hospitalization rates in recent years)

• Pregnant women

• People with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disorders or compromised immune systems

• Healthcare workers and caregivers who interact with vulnerable populations

Children under 9 getting their first flu vaccine still need two doses given at least four weeks apart, making early vaccination even more critical.

Beat the Rush: Timing Matters More Than Ever

Given Georgia's current high flu activity, vaccination timing is crucial. It takes two weeks for protective antibodies to develop, so getting vaccinated now provides the best protection before flu activity peaks between December and February.

The CDC recommends vaccination for everyone six months and older, ideally before the end of October. However, it's never too late to get vaccinated during flu season.

Prevention Beyond Vaccination

While vaccination remains the gold standard for flu prevention, other strategies are equally important:

 - Hand hygiene: Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds

 - Respiratory etiquette: Cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands

 - Avoid touching your face: Flu viruses enter through mucus membranes in the nose, mouth, and eyes

 - Stay home when sick: Remain fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication before returning to work or school

 - Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water aren't available

When to Seek Medical Care

Don't wait to see a healthcare provider if you experience a fever above 100°F, difficulty breathing or chest pain, persistent vomiting or signs of dehydration, or worsening symptoms after initial improvement. High-risk individuals should contact their healthcare provider as soon as flu symptoms appear, as antiviral medications are most effective when started within 48 hours of symptom onset.

With flu activity surging in Georgia, now is the time to protect yourself and others. Get vaccinated, practice good hygiene, and stay home if you’re sick. Your actions make a difference, not only for you, but for those most at risk this season.