Virginia Department of Health says ‘now is the time to act’ as flu season gets underway

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- With the onset of cooler weather, health officials across the Commonwealth are issuing a reminder about getting your flu shot.

The flu shot is recommended for nearly everyone six months and older. Ideally, the best time to get it is by the end of October. Since the exact timing and severity of seasonal outbreaks are so hard to predict, preventative action is the best defense against severe illness.

"We are very busy during respiratory season at the health department," said Elena Diskin, who leads the Respiratory Disease Team at the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

Last year’s flu season was defined as one of "high severity," prompting officials to stress the importance of protection this year.

During the 2024-2025 flu season, 280 pediatric deaths were reported in the United States, the highest number of child deaths since the CDC began nationally tracking them in 2004 -- excluding the 2009 to 2010 H1N1 pandemic year.

In Virginia, the severity was also high during last year's flu season with peak activity in early February accounting for nearly 19,000 emergency and urgent care visits in a single week.

Health experts estimate that this year will see a similar combined rate of hospitalizations from Flu, COVID and RSV, making preparation essential.

Diskin explained that the flu shot should be viewed as proactive support for the immune system, designed to handle the coming season's strains.

"The flu vaccine, you know, works to help support your immune system, and is reformulated every season to most closely match what we predict will be the flu strains that will be circulating," she explained.

Dr. Raj Malhotra, a pulmonologist at Chippenham Hospital, reminded the public that vaccination is only one part of the defense strategy, urging extra precautions for those at highest risk.

"Frequent hand washing, staying away from sick contacts, being a little bit more diligent, especially as the holidays come up and we're all going to be hanging out for Thanksgiving, Christmas, football games" Dr. Malhotra advised.

Dr. Malhotra stressed that for everyone, especially the elderly and those with underlying health issues, using every available precaution is crucial. He advocates for patients to take an active role in their health decisions.

"We really like the shared decision making model where you and your health care practitioner, whether it's a pharmacist or a physician, really sit down to have a conversation about what's best for you," he said.

The most recent data on respiratory illnesses in your area, including the current rates of Flu, COVID and RSV activity, can be found on the Virginia Department of Health website.