Early Flu Season Prompts Call for Vaccination Before Holiday Travel and Gatherings

The 2026–27 flu season has started early. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza activity is rising sooner than is typical, and the highest levels are currently being reported along the West Coast.

That timing matters because of what comes next. November and December bring holiday travel, family gatherings, celebrations and long hours spent indoors with other people. Against that backdrop, Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles is taking free flu clinics and health screenings into local communities, and it is urging people who have not yet been vaccinated to do so now. The message is that it is not too late.

The health system is running the effort through two channels: its Community Health Improvement program and COACH for Kids, its mobile medical clinic. The stated aim is to meet residents where they live, work and gather. Cedars-Sinai describes the work as part of its commitment to being "Here. For L.A."

Christina Harris, MD, the system's vice president and chief health equity officer, framed the effort in terms of history and access. Cedars-Sinai, she said, has served vulnerable communities across Los Angeles for more than a century, and being here for L.A. means making it easier for people to get the care and resources they need to stay healthy. She also addressed those who have put off getting a shot: there is still time, and vaccination before holiday gatherings can protect both the person vaccinated and the people around them, especially those most vulnerable to severe flu.

Those vulnerable groups are well defined. Young children, adults 65 and older, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions face a higher risk of serious complications. These include pneumonia, illness requiring hospitalization and, in some cases, death. The source is also clear that serious complications can strike anyone, including people who are otherwise healthy.

Flu symptoms often come on suddenly. They can include fever or chills, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, headaches, fatigue, and muscle or body aches. Influenza is contagious and can spread before people realize they are sick, which is one reason vaccination is considered an important way to lower the risk of illness and complications.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each season. The vaccine does not work immediately: it takes about two weeks for the protective antibodies to develop. That delay is why getting vaccinated in November and December is especially important for people who will soon be traveling, attending celebrations and sharing indoor space with family and friends.

The Cedars-Sinai community clinics welcome all ages 6 months and older. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. With activity already climbing on the West Coast, the practical window to be protected by the holidays is the next couple of weeks.