Is it too late to get a flu or COVID shot?

(WGN Radio) – After weeks of mounting respiratory illnesses, things are finally showing signs of trending in the right direction, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. If you never got around to getting the latest flu and COVID vaccines, should you forget about it now?

“No, absolutely not,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital. “If somebody has not yet gotten the flu shot, this is really a good time to get it. It’s only January.”

Even though flu-like illness is starting to show signs of trending downward, levels remain “elevated” around the country, the CDC said Friday.

Since the early 1980s, the most commonly observed peak of flu season has come in February, but there’s still a higher risk of catching the flu all the way up until mid-to-late spring, Kopin said.

Pharmacies are still well stocked with the flu shot, just as they are with the updated COVID-19 boosters, which were retooled last fall to better target newer variants.

“COVID ain’t going anywhere,” Kopin said. “We’re still seeing lots of infections, we’re seeing lots of hospitalizations.”

In an interview with WGN Radio, Kopin reminded people the U.S. is still seeing 1,500 COVID-related deaths every week. That’s more than 200 deaths per day.

“It’s not like it’s gone away, we just don’t hear about it,” said Kopin. “Thankfully that death rate is way down compared to what it was back when omicron first surfaced … but still, 200 a day.”

He said people with chronic illness and the elderly should most strongly consider getting an updated COVID booster, as they are at highest risk for serious illness or death from the virus.

Hear more of Dr. Kopin’s interview in the audio player below:

The only reason you might want to wait to get your latest booster shot is if you’ve recently had COVID. At the very least, you should wait until you’re feeling better and out of your isolation period before you get another vaccine dose, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises.

But some people may want to consider waiting even longer, the CDC acknowledges. Because you get some natural immunity from a recent infection, waiting up to 3 months to get a booster shot could “extend that protection out by delaying,” explained Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, health officer in Seattle and King County.

“Everyone needs to look at their own personal situation,” said Duchin. Someone who works in a high-risk environment, or who lives with immunocompromised people, or otherwise would like maximum protection soonest can opt to get a booster just a few weeks after a recent COVID infection. Someone who would prefer to boost their immunity before a busy socializing season might want to wait a couple months.

While the effectiveness of the vaccine wanes over time, it’s still the best way to protect against severe illness, hospitalization and death, doctors agree.

About 17% of Americans have received the updated bivalent booster shot, according to the CDC. An estimated 45% of adults have gotten a flu shot so far this season.