Flu Season Begins Soon: Where To Get Vaccinated In Lake Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — It's that time of year again. Well, almost. Flu season generally begins sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving. Are you vaccinated?

Along with influenza, other respiratory viruses like RSV and in more recent years, COVID-19 are common culprits for a runny nose during the winter months.

The best way to maximize protection against them is to get the vaccines you're eligible for, Dr. John Swartzberg, an infectious disease specialist at University of California, Berkeley, told Patch this week.

With flu season looming, early signs overseas and lagging vaccination rates at home could determine how severe it gets in California. And according to Swartzberg, early signs from the Southern Hemisphere suggest the U.S. could be in for a tougher flu season.

"We also have a hint from Malaysia and Japan, where they're having a very early influenza season," he said. "That hints that maybe we're going to be seeing a more aggressive influenza this year."

Here at home, a lower uptake of the flu vaccine is sounding the alarm.

Flu season typically kicks off right after Halloween and is almost certainly here around Thanksgiving before peaking around mid to late January up to mid-February, Swartzberg said.

Despite that low uptake, early surveillance data from the Southern Hemisphere show that this season’s influenza vaccine provided moderate protection, lowering hospitalization risk by about 50 percent.

Taking all of this into consideration, Swartzberg says now is the best time to get the jab.

“Now is the time to get vaccinated for COVID, and certainly, now is the time to get vaccinated for influenza. And if you got RSV vaccine previously, it's good for at least three years.”

5 Places In Lake Elsinore That Offer RSV, Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines:

• Lake Elsinore Pediatrics - 425 Diamond Drive, Lake Elsinore | 951-981-3122
• Lake Elsinore Family Care Center - 2499 E Lakeshore Dr | 951-471-4200
• Mission Trail Clinica Medica Famili - 31946 Mission Trl, Lake Elsinore | 855-505-7467
• VCC - Lake Elsinore Health Center - 31361 Riverside Dr, Lake Elsinore | 951-252-2720
• LECMF - A Medical Corporation - 31739 Riverside Dr, Lake Elsinore | 951-245-0505

The following pharmacies also offer vaccine appointments. Search for your area below:

• Albertsons
• CVS
• Ralphs
• RiteAid
• Safeway
• Sam's Club
• Walgreens
• Walmart

Who should be getting vaccinated right now?

Swartzberg emphasized that everyone over six months of age should get the influenza vaccine, calling it the foundation of protection against respiratory viruses this winter.

He said adults over 65 — and especially those 75 and older — should also stay up to date on their COVID-19 boosters, ideally every six months, while younger adults with underlying health conditions may also benefit from twice-yearly doses.

For RSV, he noted that vaccination is recommended for adults 75 and older, and for younger adults with health risks.

READ MORE: Signs Point To Vicious CA Flu Season: What To Know