Seasonal & Holidays
With Flu Season Already Starting, Chicago Doctors Urge People To Get Their Flu Shots Early
Medical experts across the city said, if you haven't made plans to get a flu shot yet, make those moves now.
October 20, 2026
Flu season is hitting earlier this year, with hospitals already tracking cases across Chicago, about a month earlier than normal.
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Medical experts across the city said, if you haven't made plans to get a flu shot yet, make those moves now.
"This flu season, we are seeing numbers that are about a month ahead of what's usual," said Dr. Michael Lin, an infectious disease specialist at Rush University Medical Center. "It takes two weeks for the vaccine to be maximally effective, so if you're thinking about a gathering that's coming up, think about two weeks ahead of time."
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