Flu is arriving early this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 4,811 laboratory-confirmed flu hospital admissions nationwide for the week ending October 17. Its surveillance network recorded the highest hospitalization rate for this point in a season since 2010-11 1.
In its weekly report, the CDC said "Early-season influenza activity is currently higher than typically observed at this time of year." Health officials say it is still too early to know whether the season will turn out more severe than recent ones 1.
What the numbers show
Almost all the flu viruses found so far are H1N1. Of 241 influenza A samples the CDC analyzed that week, 239 were H1N1. The CDC says this is not a newly emerged strain but a descendant of the virus behind the 2009 swine flu pandemic 1.
The CDC is not detecting the H3N2 subclade K, the so-called super flu that surfaced last year 1. Researchers are still studying how the current viruses are changing. Officials say it is too early to tell whether those changes will affect how well the vaccine works 1.
Walgreens said this week that flu activity is tracking roughly four weeks ahead of recent seasons, based on its testing, prescription and retail sales data 1. Earlier this month, the chain reported cold and flu medicine purchases up 21.7% from a year ago 2. Epic Research, which analyzes electronic health records, found flu rates were off to their earliest start in five years 2.
Illness is not yet widespread. On the CDC's map of flu-like illness, only Louisiana and Hawaii were at the moderate level. Florida, South Carolina, West Virginia, Oregon and Washington were at the low level, and the other states were at the minimal level 1.
What experts say about getting a shot
It’s an early start to the season, and, when it comes to the primary value of the vaccine, it is in prevention of severe disease including hospitalization. It’s too early to know the trajectory of the season, but people should get vaccinated ASAP,
The CDC recommends a yearly flu shot for everyone 6 months and older. It says September and October are the preferred months for most people to get vaccinated before activity peaks in winter 1.
ABC News reported that people over 65 may be eligible for a higher-dose version of the vaccine. The shots take about two weeks to build immunity, so people who wait may miss protection during a surge 2.
What happens next
Flu activity typically keeps climbing through late fall and peaks in winter. The next several weeks will show whether this is the start of an unusually early season or a temporary rise 1. Officials will watch hospitalization trends, regional spread and the dominance of H1N1 1.
That matters for older readers because the vaccine's main value, in the words of one expert, is preventing severe disease, including hospital stays 1. The CDC also advises anyone with fever, cough, sore throat, aches or fatigue to seek medical treatment 1.
The Record
Sources
- Newsweek, “Should You Get Flu Shot Now? What We Know About This Year's Dominant Virus” (2026-10-25). newsweek.com/flu-shot-hospitalizations-virus-cdc-12614896
- ABC News / Good Morning America, “Cold and flu medicine purchases up nearly 22% from last year, Walgreens data shows” (2026-10-09). goodmorningamerica.com/wellness/story/cold-flu-medicine-purc
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