Flu season in Dallas brings several respiratory viruses into circulation, including flu, RSV, and COVID-19. Vaccination can reduce your risk of serious illness, while some people, including pregnant women, may need additional protection. Knowing which vaccines are recommended for you and your family can help you prepare for the months ahead.
When Does Flu Season Start in Dallas?
Flu viruses circulate every year, with cases typically increasing during the fall and winter.
That makes early fall a good time to think about flu prevention rather than waiting until people around you start getting sick. The CDC recommends a seasonal flu vaccine every year for everyone aged 6 months and older, with rare exceptions.
Ideally, most people should receive their flu vaccine during September or October. However, getting vaccinated later can still provide protection while flu viruses continue to circulate.
Children aged 6 months through 8 years who need two doses should receive their first dose as soon as the vaccine becomes available so there is enough time for the second dose.
Who Should Get a Flu Vaccine?
Most adults and children aged 6 months and older should have a flu vaccine every year.
Annual vaccination matters because the flu viruses circulating in the community change over time, and protection from vaccination also decreases. Seasonal flu vaccines are updated to target the viruses expected to cause the most illness that season.
Some people have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill from flu. This includes adults aged 65 and older, young children, and people with certain chronic health conditions.
Pregnancy also increases the risk.
Why Is the Flu Vaccine Important During Pregnancy?
Changes to your immune system, heart and lungs during pregnancy can make you more vulnerable to serious complications from flu.
The CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend flu vaccination during pregnancy. You can receive an inactivated or recombinant flu vaccine during any trimester.
The vaccine offers protection in two ways. It reduces your own risk of becoming seriously ill with flu, and antibodies produced by your body cross the placenta to your baby.
Why is this important?
Because babies cannot receive their own flu vaccine until they’re 6 months old. Vaccination during pregnancy can provide them some protection during those early months.
Pregnant women should receive a flu shot rather than the nasal spray flu vaccine, which contains live attenuated influenza virus.
If you’re pregnant and unsure about flu vaccination, talk to your OBGYN about the right timing for you.
What About RSV During Pregnancy?
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, often causes relatively mild cold-like symptoms in adults. It can be much more serious for babies.
There are two ways to help protect infants against severe RSV:
- maternal RSV vaccination during pregnancy or
- a long-acting RSV antibody given to the baby after birth.
Most babies do not need both. If you received an RSV vaccine during a previous pregnancy, CDC does not currently recommend another dose during a subsequent pregnancy. Instead, your baby should receive a long-acting RSV antibody after birth.
In most of the continental United States, the CDC recommends the maternal RSV vaccine Abrysvo for women who are 32 through 36 weeks pregnant during September through January.
Timing matters. Receiving the RSV vaccine during this period allows your body enough time to make protective antibodies and pass them to your baby before birth.
The recommendations for an RSV vaccine during pregnancy are therefore different from those for a flu vaccine, which can be given during any trimester.
If you’re pregnant during RSV season in Dallas, your OBGYN can explain whether maternal vaccination during pregnancy or an RSV antibody for your baby is appropriate.
Where Does COVID-19 Fit into Fall Vaccination?
COVID-19 has not disappeared. It can circulate alongside flu and RSV.
Current CDC guidance uses individual-based decision-making for COVID-19 vaccination. What that means is your age, health, previous vaccination, and other risk factors can all affect the balance of benefits.
Pregnancy is one factor to consider because pregnant women have a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 than women of reproductive age who are not pregnant.
Your primary care provider or OBGYN can help you review the current COVID-19 vaccine recommendations alongside the flu and RSV vaccines that may be relevant to you.
What Else Can You Do to Reduce Your Risk of Flu?
Vaccination is an important part of flu prevention, but everyday measures can reduce your exposure to respiratory viruses too.
Wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Cleaner indoor air can also help reduce exposure to viruses. Open windows when practical, improve ventilation, and consider spending time outdoors when meeting other people.
Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you become ill yourself, staying home while you are infectious helps protect other people, particularly those who may be more vulnerable.
And be cautious about products promoted as quick ways to “boost” your immune system. High-dose supplements and other remedies are not substitutes for vaccination or established preventive measures.
Can Saline Nasal Spray Help?
There is some interesting evidence that a simple saline nasal spray may help when respiratory illnesses strike.
A large UK study involving almost 14,000 adults at increased risk from respiratory infections found that people advised to use nasal sprays experienced around 20% fewer days of illness than those receiving usual care.
That doesn’t mean saline nasal spray prevents flu, and it shouldn’t replace vaccination or medical treatment.
But it suggests that saline spray may be a useful, low-cost addition when respiratory viruses are circulating.
What Are the Symptoms of Flu?
Flu symptoms often appear suddenly and can include:
- Fever or feeling feverish
- Chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Headache
- Muscle or body aches
- Fatigue
Some people also experience vomiting or diarrhea, although this is more common in children. And not everyone with flu develops a fever.
Flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory infections can cause similar symptoms, so symptoms alone may not tell you which virus you have.
If you’re pregnant, have an underlying medical condition or develop severe symptoms, contact your healthcare provider promptly. Flu antiviral medications work best when started within one to two days of symptoms beginning, so people at higher risk of complications shouldn’t wait several days to see if they feel better.
Can Your Primary Care Provider Help You Prepare for Flu Season?
Can Your Primary Care Provider Help You Prepare for Flu Season?Yes. Your primary care provider can review which vaccines are appropriate for you, answer questions about your health risks, and help you decide what to do if flu symptoms develop.
This is particularly useful if you have diabetes, asthma, heart disease, or another condition that can increase your risk of serious flu complications.
However, families don’t necessarily need exactly the same vaccines at the same time. Age, pregnancy, health conditions, and vaccination history all make a difference.
Stella Mattina Can Help Protect Your Family This Flu Season in Dallas
Flu season is easier to prepare for before illness starts circulating through your family, workplace, or school.
Stella Mattina can help you review the flu, RSV, and COVID-19 protection that’s appropriate for you and your family. Our primary care and women’s health teams provide coordinated care across our Dallas-area clinics.
Looking for a flu shot in Dallas? Come and talk to your provider about the vaccinations recommended for you this fall.
We welcome walk-ins and offer same-day appointments for vaccinations at all our clinics. Call 214-942-3100 today and stay safer during the flu season!
Dr. Gonzalo Venegas
Gonzalo Venegas, MD is the Medical Director of Stella Mattina Health and a respected obstetrician-gynecologist with over four decades of service in the Dallas medical community. He has led the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Methodist Dallas Medical Center and contributed to community health through his role on the Parkland Health & Hospital System Board. A dedicated mentor at UT Southwestern, Dr. Venegas is known for his leadership, compassion, and commitment to advancing women’s health and medical education.