A fresh round of flu and COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out to pharmacies, doctor’s offices and clinics across the country. But when’s the best time to get your shots?

There are a number of factors that can inform when you roll up your sleeve, officials and experts say. You might consider travel plans, or upcoming holiday gatherings. Maybe you live with someone who has a higher chance of becoming seriously ill from a respiratory infection, or face such risks yourself.

Despite those nuances, one thing health officials agree on: You should get your flu shot and stay current on your COVID-19 vaccines.

What vaccines will be available? And when?

Along with the annual batch of flu shots, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that everyone age 6 months and up get a newly updated COVID-19 vaccination.

Both vaccines are specifically formulated to protect against particular viral strains that officials feel will be prevalent this fall and winter.

“It’s not just a booster. It’s really an updated vaccine,” said Dr. David Bronstein, pediatrician and infectious disease specialist with Kaiser Permanente Southern California, of the new COVID-19 vaccine. “You get your COVID vaccine and you are done, probably for a year, just like with the flu vaccine.”

CVS Health said some of its pharmacies are administering COVID vaccinations, while Walgreens said appointments might be available as early as this week.

What’s the best time to get the COVID-19 and flu shots?

The CDC suggests getting the flu shot in September or October. But even if you miss that window, it’s still important to get it, the agency says.

The CDC doesn’t have a specific recommended timeframe for getting the latest COVID-19 vaccination, but had endorsed the vaccinations for virtually everyone heading into the fall and winter — when coronavirus transmission has typically risen nationwide, as has happened in recent weeks.

“The best time to get any shot is before you’re exposed to the disease,” Bronstein said. “So right now is really the perfect timing to get both.”

In both cases, officials note it takes about two weeks after administration for the vaccines to reach their full potency. So if you’re planning a trip or gathering, you may want to get vaccinated well beforehand to make sure you’re maximally protected.

Bronstein said doctors aren’t seeing a surge in flu yet locally, but “we do expect an early season and a severe season” for flu based off of trends from Australia, where the season was so intense among children some people called it the “kindy flu,” as the flu hit elementary schools, preschools and childcare centers hard.

“Flu is coming and it’s probably going to be early like last year. If you remember last year, it peaked in October, early November-ish, compared to previous years, where you’re typically going to peak sometime after the holidays,” he said.

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UC San Francisco infectious diseases expert, suggests “a good sweet spot” for both vaccinations could be late September or early October.

“But if you might forget, just go ahead and get it now,” he said.

Can I get the flu and COVID-19 shots at the same time?

Yes.

If I just got COVID, should I wait to get the new COVID vaccination?

It’s up to you. The CDC has said that people can either wait three months after recovering from COVID-19 before getting their next vaccination, or they can opt to get it as soon as they have fully recovered.

How much will the COVID shots cost?

Most people will not have to pay for COVID-19 vaccinations, as they will be covered by their health insurance. The federal Vaccines for Children program will provide vaccinations to youngsters at no cost.

For uninsured and underinsured adults, the CDC has a temporary “Bridge Access Program” that will provide vaccinations for free through the end of 2024. Participating providers can be found at vaccines.gov.

I’ve heard there’s an RSV vaccine this year. Can I get it at the same time as the other shots?

A vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is now available for those age 60 and up. Babies and young children are also eligible to get monoclonal antibodies that can help keep them from falling seriously ill should they get infected.

Between 6,000 and 10,000 older adults die from RSV in a typical year. Among children under 5, the annual death toll usually ranges from 100 to 300.

Parents should talk to their pediatricians about monoclonal antibodies, which can reduce infants’ risk of RSV-related hospitalization and healthcare visits by 80%. The CDC has recommended a dose of the monoclonal antibodies for infants younger than 8 months who are either born during or entering their first RSV season, which stretches from autumn through the spring.

For children between the ages of 8 and 19 months who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease, such as those who are immunocompromised, the CDC suggests a dose in their second RSV season.

The monoclonal antibody for young children is known by the generic name nirsevimab and the trademarked name Beyfortus, and was developed by AstraZeneca and Sanofi. It’ll be available through health care providers.