How to Protect Yourself This Flu Season

Christina Franzese, DNP ’25, a clinician at Columbia Nursing’s Nurse Practitioner Group, explains why this flu season has been so severe, who needs a shot, additional ways to protect yourself and your loved ones, and what to do if you do come down with the flu. 

We keep hearing that this flu season has been unusually severe. Do we know why?  

This flu season has been quite severe in terms of the number of individuals impacted by the flu. Several compounding factors appear to be responsible. The dominant circulating strain of flu we are seeing this year is influenza A, specifically subclade K. This strain is different from what was expected to be the biggest flu culprit this year, based on research and trends, and so it is different from what was put in the vaccine. What this means is that a more mutated strain of the flu is able to bypass our immunity a bit more easily, or at least partially evade it, leading to greater number of infections and greater transmissibility. At the same time, vaccination rates are also lower this year, and flu activity started earlier and spread more quickly, all of which have contributed to the rampant flu season we are seeing.  

Who should have a flu shot?  

Everyone aged six months and older can and should get a flu shot. It’s especially important for people at higher risk of complications from the flu including older adults, young children, pregnant individuals, and people with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or weakened immune systems. It is always important to consult your provider first if you have any allergies to the vaccine or its components or have had a severe reaction to a flu shot in the past.  

Even if you consider yourself completely healthy, it’s important to remember that vaccination also helps protect the vulnerable people around you.  

When is the best time to get a flu shot? Is it too late if you haven’t been vaccinated?  

The ideal time to get a flu shot is early fall, or before the holiday season, before flu activity ramps up and in time for our bodies to develop immunity ahead of peak flu season. However, it is not too late to get vaccinated as long as the flu is circulating. Even later in the season, like right now and in the coming months, getting the vaccine can still reduce your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and complications from the flu.  

Are there additional ways people can protect themselves?  

Absolutely. First and foremost, staying home when you are sick is a good way to protect those around you. Plus, covering coughs and sneezes properly is important to avoid spreading droplets. To protect ourselves, basic prevention matters immensely, including washing hands regularly, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, and disinfecting potentially contaminated surfaces in our homes and at work when a family member or colleague becomes sick. In crowded or high-risk settings, wearing a mask can add another layer of protection, especially for people who are older or immunocompromised.  

Just generally, protecting ourselves can also look like focusing on living a healthy lifestyle as much as possible. We want to be the healthiest versions of ourselves that we can be by eating healthy and exercising regularly so that when we are exposed to illness, we have the best chance of fighting it off quickly and effectively.  

If someone does get the flu, what should they do?  

Antiviral medications can be effective if started within the first 48 hours of symptom onset, especially for people at higher risk of complications from the flu. If someone gets the flu, it is a good idea to contact their provider early to see if they would benefit from treatment. But the best thing to do for most people is to rest, hydrate, avoid contact with others to prevent spread, and manage symptoms with over-the-counter supportive treatments.  

Anyone with severe symptoms such as trouble breathing, chest pain, or worsening illness should seek medical care promptly.  

Can you get the flu twice?  

Yes you can. There are multiple flu strains circulating each season, so it is possible to be infected more than once by different strains. This is another reason vaccination is important, as it offers broader protection and reduces severity even if you do get sick.  

Is there anything else that’s important for people to know about the flu and flu shots?  

First, it is important to know that the flu is not just a “bad cold” for everyone. It can be serious and even life-threatening, particularly for vulnerable groups. This is not to scare anyone but to bring awareness to the fact that it is important to take care of ourselves and to take care of others. Also, the flu shot cannot give you the flu. Some people experience mild flu-like symptoms after a flu shot, but those are short-lived and far less serious than the flu itself. Vaccination remains a safe and effective tool to reduce severe illness and protect communities, based on many years of research and science.