Seasonal care
When Does Flu Season Start in Virginia, and How Should I Prepare?
Know when flu season usually peaks in Virginia, the best time for your flu shot and what to do quickly if you start feeling sick.
When flu season happens
Flu season in Virginia typically:
- Starts in October
- Peaks from December to February
- Can continue into March or April
Each season is different, which is why yearly vaccination is recommended.
How to prepare
- Get your flu shot in September or October.
- Check other vaccines: COVID-19 and, for some adults, RSV.
- Stock up: thermometer, fever reducer, fluids, tissues.
- Plan ahead for childcare or work if someone gets sick.
- Know your risk: adults 65+, pregnancy, chronic conditions and young children are at higher risk.
If you get the flu
- Rest, drink fluids and treat fever and aches.
- Contact us early if you are higher risk or very unwell; antivirals such as oseltamivir work best within 48 hours.
- Stay home until fever-free for at least 24 hours without medicine and you feel better.
- Cover coughs and wash hands often.
How we can help
We offer quick video visits for flu symptoms and can prescribe antivirals the same day when appropriate. Members can message us for advice before booking. See also our cold and flu season checklist.
Questions people ask
Is it too late to get a flu shot in January?
No. Getting vaccinated later in the season still offers protection while flu is circulating.
Can the flu shot give me the flu?
No. The vaccine cannot cause flu. Mild aches or a sore arm are common and short-lived.
How long am I contagious?
Usually from a day before symptoms until about 5 to 7 days after they start.
Talk it through with Lydia
Flu symptoms starting? A quick video visit can get treatment started early. See a board-certified nurse practitioner virtually anywhere in Virginia, in our Woodbridge office, or straight to your front door in much of Northern Virginia.
Visits start at $85, and every membership comes with a 30-day trial.
Prefer to ask first? Text us at (571) 402-2102 or message us on WhatsApp.
