Flu season is kicking off early — are you getting a vaccine?

Flu season in the U.S. typically starts around late October or early November and peaks between December and February. But new data reveals that the current flu season is starting slightly earlier than normal.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 3.4% of respiratory samples tested for flu came back positive for the week of Sept. 26. That’s around seven times the rate compared with the same week in 2025.

The positive tests are coming mainly from Western states, including California, Washington and Arizona. Regardless of where you’re located in the U.S., though, most people are recommended to get their annual flu shot in September or October, and the same goes for this flu season.