Flu season started earlier than expected what to know about the brand new vaccine

Now is around the time when flu season usually starts to pick up — except this year, cases have been rising since late summer.Some data shows current flu activity is similar to when flu activity peaks at the end of the year.But it’s still too early to tell whether this year’s flu will be particularly severe.For now, experts are warning people take precautions: Avoid people who are sick, wash your hands — and get vaccinated.This year, there’s a brand new shot that takes a totally different approach to flu prevention, and early data shows it’s more effective than the traditional shot.

But it’s not for everyone.Here’s what to know.October is the typical start of the flu season.But this year, cases started rising as early as late August.

Based on wastewater data, flu activity reached levels this month usually not seen until December or January — when flu season historically peaks.“Early-season influenza activity is currently higher than typically observed at this time of year,” the CDC said.That said, a vast majority of the country remains in “minimal” range of flu cases.“Every influenza season is different — some begin earlier than usual, others later,” the CDC said.

Despite an early start to flu season, 2026’s flu trends remain “within expected seasonal variation.”And while the flu generally starts picking up in southern states, this year, it appeared first in the West: California, Washington, Hawaii and Alaska.Some experts say these changes might point to an evolving flu virus.An earlier flu season means considering getting an earlier flu shot, experts say.

And this year, there’s a brand new one on the market.In August, the FDA approved mFLUSIVA, the first mRNA flu vaccine for adults aged 50 and older.Unlike traditional flu vaccines, it does not contain a weakened or inactive flu virus.Instead, it works by giving instructions via mRNA to your immune cells on how to kill the flu virus on its own.This is the same technology ...