Flu season is near: Protect yourself and your family

It still feels like summer out there, but now that it’s September, flu season is right around the corner. People can protect themselves and their communities by getting a flu vaccine, and TidalHealth has several free clinics coming up across Delmarva. 

“Getting the flu shot is the best way to protect yourself and the people around you,” said Dawn Higgins, lead infection preventionist at TidalHealth. “Getting the vaccine every year helps reduce the risk of getting sick, can lower the severity of illness if you do get the flu, and helps prevent the spread of flu throughout the community.”  

The flu vaccine has been updated ahead of the 2026-2027 season to improve protection against recently circulating strains, and it’s important to get vaccinated every year, Higgins said.

Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and those 8 and older (with a parent or guardian for ages 8-17), can get a free flu shot at the upcoming TidalHealth clinics. It’s good to get a vaccination before flu season begins, as the CDC website it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop.  

While the flu can be mild, it can also be serious, even leading to death in some cases.  

According to the Maryland Department of Health, there were 5,939 hospitalized in the state during the 2025-2026 flu season (starting Sept. 28, 2025), 168 adult deaths and one pediatric death.  

“While flu vaccination remains our best method for preventing serious illness and keeping our community healthy, it is also important to follow the other prevention methods,” Higgins said. “These include staying home when you are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, washing your hands frequently and avoiding close contact with others when you have respiratory symptoms.”