The flu season is looming and experts expect it to be moderately severe across all age groups.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released its 2026-2027 Respiratory Disease Season Outlook. As of Sept. 18, when the report was released, seasonal influenza activity in Maryland and across the country remained low.
The CDC is watching the Southern Hemisphere for clues as to how the flu season may unfold. As of September, influenza activity in the Southern Hemisphere had generally been moderate, had peaked and was declining in most South American and southern African countries.
According to the CDC's FluView data for the 2025-2026 flu season, for the week ending Sept. 28, 9,467 positive influenza cases and 706 influenza B cases were reported in total.
The Maryland Health Department shows that, for the past year from Sept. 28, 2025, to Sept. 28, 2026, there were 5,932 hospitalizations due to respiratory illnesses, 170 adult deaths and one pediatric death.
The state health department's data for the week ending Oct. 2 shows that emergency department visits for COVID-19 and influenza are very low, but increasing. Overall respiratory illness activity remains very low in Maryland.
Vaccinations in Maryland skyrocketed on Oct. 1 compared to Sept. 1 of 2026. So far, 135,366 Marylanders have been vaccinated for the flu and 50,624 people have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
In response to the anticipated moderately severe flu season, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recommended that people update all three components of the 2026-2027 flu vaccine, including a change designed to protect against the influenza A(H3N2) subclade K virus that circulated widely during the 2025-2026 season. Manufacturers project producing up to 135 million doses for the U.S. market.
Furthermore, the CDC expects the upcoming U.S. fall and winter respiratory disease season will likely have a similar combined number of peak hospitalizations due to COVID-19, influenza and RSV disease combined when compared to last season.
The flu can cause mild to severe illness. Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly, according to the CDC.
People who have the flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms:
*Not everyone with flu will have a fever.
Residents should check with their preferred pharmacy for vaccine availability, types of vaccines offered, insurance coverage and whether or not an appointment is required.
Find a local CVS pharmacy online here, a Walmart pharmacy here and a Walgreens pharmacy here. Giant and Safeway pharmacies also offer vaccines.
Below is a list of other locations offering the flu vaccine, as well as sites that are part of county health vaccine offerings.
Below is the Howard County Health Department's 2026-2027 community flu shot schedule with free walk-up vaccinations offered at multiple locations starting Oct. 1.
Other locations offering the flu vaccine in Howard County include:
The Baltimore County Health Department offers free seasonal influenza vaccination clinics to the public with more information available at Baltimore County Vaccinations.
The Anne Arundel County Department of Health will offer community vaccination clinics, but officials said vaccines aren't available yet.
Other locations include:
Residents can schedule a flu vaccine appointment through the Montgomery County Health Department at one of 17 locations online via Montgomery County Apps.
Other locations include:
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