When's the Best Time to Get the Flu Vaccine?

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible, some doctors say people should wait until October or November. When's the best time to get the flu shot?

"Everyone should get the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available in their community," CDC spokesman Tom Skinner told Life's Little Mysteries. "In the United States, the vaccine starts to become available in August and September."

And because the vaccine is already on hand at clinics and stores in most towns and cities, the time is now, Skinner said. The vaccine provides six to eight months of protection, and the ever-unpredictable flu season can begin as early as October.

When will flu season peak? Read On