Flu shot appointments are now available at Innovative Care
It feels like fall in Chicago, doesn’t it? That means flu season is approaching, and the best time to protect yourself is BEFORE the virus starts spreading widely.
Good news: flu shot appointments are now available at Innovative Care. Here’s what you need to know about this year’s flu vaccine, when to get it, and how to book yours.
Two Easy Ways to Get Your Flu Shot at Innovative Care
We know life is busy, so we’ve made getting vaccinated simple. You can receive your flu shot in one of two convenient ways:
- Book a flu shot appointment at Innovative Express Care, our urgent care clinic in Lincoln Park.
- Request a flu shot during your next in-person Innovative Primary Care appointment. Just let your provider know you’d like it added to your visit.
Innovative Express Care accepts insurance, and all flu shots offered for the 2026–2027 season are preservative-free. Vaccines are available for patients ages 6 months and older, with an enhanced flu vaccine available for adults ages 65 and older.
Who Should Get a Flu Shot This Year?
The short answer: almost everyone. The CDC’s basic recommendations remain the same: everyone age 6 months and older without contraindications should receive an annual flu vaccine.
Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant people, older adults, and anyone with a chronic condition such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. And even if you’re young and healthy, getting vaccinated helps protect the people around you who may be more vulnerable, like newborns, grandparents, and friends undergoing medical treatment.
What’s New With the 2026–2027 Flu Vaccine?
Flu viruses change constantly, which is why the vaccine is updated every year. This season, the FDA recommended updated components for all three viruses in the 2026–2027 U.S. seasonal flu vaccines compared with the 2025–2026 vaccines. That includes a change intended to protect against an influenza A(H3N2) subclade K virus that spread widely during the 2025–2026 season. In other words, last year’s shot won’t cover you for this year.
When Is the Best Time to Get a Flu Shot?
For most people, vaccination should ideally occur in September or October, although vaccination should continue throughout the season while influenza viruses are circulating. Your body needs about two weeks after the shot to build full protection, so getting vaccinated before flu activity picks up gives you the best head start.
