Life & Beauty Weekly

If you put off the shots or they slipped your mind, don’t worry: It’s not too late. Even though flu season begins in September, it peaks in February and can last all the way until April. So getting the shot now will still help keep both you and your kids healthy.

But do make your appointment as soon as possible. The shot can take up to two weeks to fully boost your immunity, especially for those who have never been vaccinated before.

Plus, no matter when you get the vaccination, it will protect you and your family against the flu virus for years to come. (You still need to get an annual shot, however, since manufacturers change the vaccine every year to fend off each season’s new mutations.)

Your Expert

Dr. Zachary Rubin is an assistant clinical professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of California in Los Angeles. He is also a hospital epidemiologist at the Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center.