When should I get my flu shot in WA? Can I get COVID vaccine at the same time?
Fall is approaching and that means another season is on its way, too: flu season.
While influenza, or flu, spreads year-round, flu activity typically ramps up in fall and winter in this part of the world, according to the Washington State Department of Health, or DOH.
Here’s what you need to know about the respiratory illness, its symptoms, and steps you can take to protect yourself and others heading into flu season:
What are flu symptoms?
Flu is a contagious illness caused by flu viruses, DOH said.
“The disease is spread through the air by coughing or sneezing,” and symptoms include a dry cough, fatigue, fever, headache and a sore throat, according to the agency.
While anyone can become infected with the flu, certain groups have a greater risk of serious complications, including young kids, seniors, people who are pregnant and people with health conditions such as asthma and lung diseases, among others, DOH said.
Who should get a flu shot?
People 6 months and older should get an updated flu vaccine every year, the state health department said, adding that doing so “can help keep you from getting sick with flu. Additionally, it can reduce the severity of flu in people who are vaccinated but still get the flu.”
For seniors who are 65 and older, special flu shots are available that “give a stronger immune response than regular flu shots,” according to DOH.
Other steps for staying healthy and protecting others from the flu include: washing your hands often, covering sneezes and coughs, avoiding being close to sick people and staying at home when you’re sick, per DOH.
When should I get a flu shot? Is September too early?
Immunity from a flu shot lasts about six months, according to DOH’s Office of Immunization. That means “vaccination provides the best protection when received in September or October to be fully effective before flu season typically begins in October,” officials said in a Sept. 9 email to The Olympian.
When it comes to timing, “since it takes about two weeks after receiving the flu shot for your body to develop protective antibodies and provide full protection against the flu, October may be a better month to get the shot, however September is definitely not too early,” the office said.
Some people in high-risk categories might need a second flu shot later in flu season if they get their initial flu shot in September, according to the immunization office.
You can get a flu shot from your health provider, pharmacies and at flu shot events. Costs may vary, but flu shots are covered by most health insurance companies. There’s no cost for kids to get a flu vaccination.
Washington’s flu vaccine coverage contributed to it being ranked third on WalletHub’s 2025 list of states that vaccinate the most. The personal finance company looked at all 50 states and Washington, D.C., using 16 metrics, including vaccination rates against several diseases and other factors, such as the share of people who are uninsured.
Is it OK to get a COVID-19 vaccination and flu shot at the same time?
It’s OK to get your flu shot and your COVID-19 vaccination on the same day or even during the same health provider visit, if you’d like, the DOH Office of Immunization said.
State health officials recommend that people 6 months and older stay updated on their COVID-19 vaccinations “to protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death.”
Getting the COVID-19 vaccination has grown more complicated recently amid federal policy changes and conflicting guidance, The Kansas City Star reported.
In Washington, a recently-issued standing order from the health department helps improve access, state health officials said. Under the order, most residents can get a COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic or pharmacy without needing their own individual prescription, per the DOH.
The standing order came after the governors of Washington and some other states announced a health alliance aimed in part at providing “evidence-based unified recommendations” on immunizations. Oregon, California and Hawaii also are joining the West Coast Health Alliance, The Olympian previously reported.
This story was originally published September 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "When should I get my flu shot in WA? Can I get COVID vaccine at the same time?."
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