Wright Center: Importance of Flu Vaccines

As the holiday season rapidly approaches, it is important to remember that this time of year also marks the peak season for respiratory illnesses such as RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and influenza, commonly known as the flu.

According to projections by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 2025-26 flu season will likely be moderate across all age groups, based on historical trends and expert analysis. The previous season was classified as a high-severity season across all ages — the first time that’s happened since 2017-18.

Flu season typically begins around late September or early October, which is generally considered the ideal time to get vaccinated. From there, cases increasingly accelerate until hitting peak flu between December and February. Some years, infections can occur as late as May.

Flu symptoms typically appear within a few days and may include fever, chills, dry cough, body aches, headaches, nasal congestion or runny nose, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The most effective way to protect against the flu — and to reduce the severity of symptoms if infection occurs — is to receive the annual flu vaccine, which helps the body develop protective antibodies within two weeks of vaccination.

This season, all flu vaccines in the United States are trivalent (three-component) vaccines, which are designed to protect against three main groups of circulating flu Type A and B viruses: an A(H1N1) virus, an A(H3N2) virus, and a B/Victoria lineage virus.

The flu vaccine is available to anyone ages 6 months and older, and CDC studies have shown that vaccination reduces the risk of contracting the illness by about 40 to 60 percent among the general public.

For certain vulnerable populations, vaccination is particularly crucial given the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and even death. That list includes pregnant women, young children, adults ages 65 and older, and those with serious health conditions like cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, asthma, and kidney disease. Every year, thousands of children are hospitalized with severe flu, according to the CDC.

The Wright Center places great importance on flu vaccinations and offers flu shots at all of its locations throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.  To schedule an office visit that includes a vaccination, call 570-230-0019 or go online to use the express scheduling system at TheWrightCenter.org.

Meanwhile, numerous local pharmacies offer free flu shots to customers with health insurance, and a number of local employers provide flu vaccinations as a free service to their workers.

It is important to emphasize that flu vaccines are safe and effective in protecting individuals and their loved ones from the most severe effects of the illness. As an early holiday gift to oneself, receiving a flu shot as soon as possible is strongly encouraged.