Houston Methodist’s Dr. Wesley Long on Flu Season 2025: What to Expect and How to Protect Yourself
Houston Methodist’s Dr. Wesley Long on
Flu Season 2025: What to Expect and How to Protect Yourself
As flu season gains momentum, Dr. Wesley
Long, pathologist and medical director of the Diagnostic Microbiology
Laboratory at Houston Methodist, is offering vital insights and guidance for
staying healthy this year. Newswise
In a recent interview, Dr. Long covered
topics including:
- When
to expect flu activity and how severe it might be
- Common
myths about the flu vaccine
- How
to distinguish the flu from COVID-19 and RSV
- Safe
vaccination practices and timing
- Tips
for protecting vulnerable people in your household
Below is a full breakdown of his advice
— plus actionable steps you can take now to reduce your risk.
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📈 Flu Season Outlook: Timing, Peaks & Severity
Dr. Long explains that while we are just
entering flu season, it’s too early to predict definitively how severe it will
be compared to past years. Newswise Historical patterns show that flu activity
typically begins rising in October or November, peaks between December and
February, and then tapers off by March or April. Newswise
At the moment, flu cases remain
relatively low but are starting to climb. Dr. Long recommends getting
vaccinated in early to mid-October to allow the immune system enough time to
build protection before peak months. Newswise
He notes that this timing coincides with
social markers in Texas — like college football season or the State Fair of
Texas — which often bring increased social mingling, making it logical to
vaccinate before those events. Newswise
🧠 Debunking Myths About Flu
& Flu Vaccines
One of the most persistent myths is that
the flu shot can give you the flu. Dr. Long strongly dispels this, pointing out
that flu vaccines contain inactivated virus or viral fragments, not live virus
strains capable of causing infection. Newswise
He uses a “hamburger bun” analogy:
The vaccine is like giving your immune
system a bun so it recognizes what a full hamburger (the flu) looks like. But
the bun alone won’t give you the full meal — just like the vaccine won’t give
you the flu. Newswise
Some mild reactions (soreness, fatigue,
or feeling under the weather briefly) may occur — but these are signs your
immune system is responding and not indications that the vaccine caused
infection. Newswise
He also emphasizes that because flu
season overlaps with other respiratory illnesses (COVID-19, RSV, common cold
viruses), a person may receive a vaccine and still catch a different virus —
causing confusion about vaccine effects. Newswise
💪 Who Should Get the Flu Shot?
Some believe that only older adults or
people with chronic conditions need flu vaccination. Dr. Long strongly counters
this idea, saying even healthy young adults can experience severe complications
or even death from influenza. Newswise
Therefore, he recommends that everyone
eligible get vaccinated — both to protect themselves and to help shield
those who are more vulnerable.
🔄 What’s New in the 2025 Flu
Vaccine Options?
Each year’s flu vaccine is updated to
match circulating viral strains. Dr. Long explains that while the vaccine
“type” may remain familiar, the specific antigenic components can change. Newswise
Some versions available this year
include:
- Standard
flu shot (inactivated virus) — safe for most individuals
- FluMist
nasal spray — live attenuated version, for ages 2–49 who meet eligibility
criteria
- High-dose
or adjuvanted vaccines — for those age 65+ to boost immune response
- Egg-free
/ egg-alternative vaccines for those with egg allergies
Dr. Long advises speaking with your
physician to determine which version best suits your health profile and risk
factors. Newswise
🦠 Flu, COVID-19 & RSV:
Telling the Difference
One challenge this season: flu,
COVID-19, and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) can produce overlapping
symptoms like fever, cough, fatigue, and body aches. Houston Methodist+1
Dr. Long outlines some distinguishing
features:
- Flu
tends to hit suddenly, with high fevers and severe systemic symptoms
- RSV
in healthy adults may cause longer-lasting coughs
- COVID-19
may include sore throat, congestion, loss of taste or smell, and variable
onset
Testing is an important tool, especially
since treatments differ. At Houston Methodist, they offer combined tests that
detect flu, RSV, and COVID-19 from one sample. Houston Methodist+1
This is crucial because antiviral
medications exist for both flu and COVID, but they are not interchangeable.
Using the correct treatment depends on accurate diagnosis. Newswise
🛡️ Protecting Vulnerable
Household Members
Dr. Long emphasizes that protecting
high-risk individuals (young children, older adults, immunocompromised people)
requires community effort. Here are his recommendations:
- Ensure
everyone in the household who is eligible gets vaccinated
- Use
masks in crowded indoor settings, especially when flu activity is rising
- Avoid
large social gatherings during peak season
- If
someone gets sick, isolate them in a separate room if possible
- Stay
home when ill, even if symptoms seem mild
Because some people might be unknowingly
immunosuppressed, Dr. Long reminds us that we may interact with vulnerable
individuals — so vaccination is as much about community protection as
individual benefit. Newswise
🏥 What to Do If You Get the Flu
Even with vaccination, flu can still
occur. Dr. Long advises:
- Monitor
for warning signs (difficulty breathing, worsening symptoms) and contact
your doctor early
- Undergo
virus testing to confirm whether it’s flu, COVID-19, or another
respiratory virus
- Seek
antiviral treatment, if appropriate, especially in the early days of
illness
- Rest,
hydrate, and follow your doctor’s guidance
Quick care can reduce the risk of
hospitalization and severe outcomes. Newswise
⏱️ When Is the Best Time to Get
Vaccinated?
Because this flu season appears to be starting
early, Dr. Long recommends getting your flu shot now, rather than waiting until
later months. Newswise
Previously, people might delay until
November so protection lasts later into spring. But with earlier transmission
already underway, delaying may leave you vulnerable before peak flu activity
arrives. Newswise
One reassuring point: you can safely
receive your COVID-19 booster and flu shot on the same day, typically one in
each arm. Newswise
📊 Flu Season Trends & the
“Twindemic” Risk
Dr. Long and other experts have warned
of the possibility of a “twindemic” — simultaneous surges in flu and COVID-19.
In prior seasons (such as 2021), flu outbreaks were interrupted by COVID waves,
but this year could be different. Houston Methodist+2Houston Methodist+2
Houston Methodist tracks flu trends
using a public flu tracker that shows real-time data across hospitals, helping
clinicians and communities monitor spread. Houston Methodist+1
Such surveillance helps health systems
anticipate hospital burden and allocate resources proactively.
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