Summers nearly over, and unfortunately, we are still very much in the throes of a pandemic. As fall approaches, theres another community health concern to contend with: flu season.

The dual threat of influenza and COVID-19 has public health experts warning of a twindemic effect that could sicken the population and overwhelm hospitals.

Social distancing, masking up, washing your hands and getting tested regularly remains the best strategy for protecting yourself against the coronavirus, but we actually have a vaccine for the flu that greatly reduces your risk of infection.

Continuing to follow the hygienic practices in place to prevent COVID-19 and getting a flu shot is your best bet for staying healthy this fall.

Heres when infectious disease specialists and primary care physicians advise you to get your flu shot and what else you need to know about the double threat of flu and the coronavirus.

Get your flu shot in early fall if you want the best chance at protection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting a flu shot in September or October. While flu season can last well into late spring, it typically ramps up in the fall and peaks between December and February.

After getting the flu shot, it takes about two weeks to build up antibodies. Getting vaccinated at the beginning of fall allows ample time to build up immunity that will last through the worst months of flu season.

With the flu vaccine, you probably get about six months of coverage, explained Jennifer Lighter , an infectious disease specialist and hospital epidemiologist at NYU Langone Health.

The timing is especially important for people ages 65 and older, who dont build up the same level of immunity or antibodies and who might not have immunity for as many months, according to David Buchholz , a pediatrician and the senior founding medical director for primary care at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Seniors also require a high-dose vaccine , which is available wherever you get your standard flu shot.

Additionally, kids under the age of 9, whose immune systems likely havent yet been exposed to the flu, require two shots if its their first time receiving the vaccine. They should get their first shot on the early side of September if possible so they can get their booster before Nov. 1, Buchholz advised.

Everyone except for babies should get the flu shot, pandemic or not.

According to the CDC, everyone ages six months or older should get vaccinated against the flu.

Im afraid people wont get the flu shot because they dont want to go to their doctor or their pharmacy, Buchholz said. But if people are doing all the appropriate things social distancing, wearing a mask, washing their hands they are safe to go get their vaccine, and we encourage it.

Moreover, health care workers administering the vaccine are instructed to follow pandemic social distancing measures . Neglecting to stay up to date on preventive health services like vaccinations could lead to community spread of infections, which, on top of COVID-19, could cause the twindemic officials fear.

The flu shot is widely available at your doctors office, local pharmacy, community health center, pop-up sites and is either free or covered by insurance. Check with your local health department for locations (for example, NYC Health provides a map ). The CDC also has a vaccine finder you can use to look up a site near you.