September 2025 — Flu season is around the corner in the Treasure Valley, and early fall is the best time to get your flu shot. “Typical flu season starts around October–November, so it is a good idea to get vaccinated now before illness starts circulating in the community,” says Ann Weiss, M.D., Physician Director at Primary Health. Because it takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to build protection, getting your flu shot early in September or October ensures you are covered for the typical duration of the flu season.
Doctors often look to Australia’s flu season for a preview of what may be coming to the Northern Hemisphere, since their winter happens before ours. This year, reports showed that Australia’s influenza season started earlier than usual and spread widely through communities. These patterns suggest we could see an earlier, more active flu season in the U.S. as well. The encouraging news is that the strains circulating in Australia matched well with this year’s vaccine, meaning we can also expect strong protection here. This makes early vaccination even more important.
The benefits of flu vaccination are well documented. “By getting the flu vaccine, it can reduce illness, doctor’s office visits, as well as work and school absences. If you do get sick, you should have less severe symptoms and be able to avoid hospitalization because of the vaccine's protection,” Dr. Weiss explains. “The risks of the flu vaccine are generally mild with temporary side effects, and serious adverse reactions are rare.” Vaccination also protects more than just you. It helps protect children, who tend to spread flu quickly, and older adults, who face higher risks of severe complications.
Primary Health makes it easy to get your flu shot. Flu vaccine is available at all Primary Health clinics, including nasal mist for kids ages 2 to 18, and high-dose vaccines for patients 65 and older. You can book an appointment online or walk into any of our urgent care clinics. Most major insurance plans cover the flu vaccine at no cost, and a discount is available for self-pay patients.
Even if you do not get your shot until later in the season, it is still worth it. Some protection is always better than none, and it is never too late to help protect yourself and those around you.