As we enter the peak of cold and flu season, staying updated on recommended vaccinations has never been more critical. This year, flu shots and the latest COVID-19 boosters are top of mind – but what should we know about each? We spoke with Vin Gupta, MD, chief medical officer at Amazon, medical correspondent, and practicing pulmonologist, about the best timing to receive these vaccines, how long to wait if you’ve recently had an infection, common side effects to expect, and realistic insights into what vaccines can and cannot do to protect our health this season. Whether you’re weighing a vaccine for yourself or a loved one, here’s what you need to know about maximizing protection.

<p>As we enter the peak of <a class="linkable-text" href="https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/understanding-common-cold-basics" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-testid="linkable-text">cold</a> and <a class="linkable-text" href="https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/adult-flu-symptoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-testid="linkable-text">flu</a> season, staying updated on recommended vaccinations has never been more critical. This year, flu shots and the latest <a class="linkable-text" href="https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/covid-19-vaccine-booster" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-testid="linkable-text">COVID-19 boosters</a> are top of mind – but what should we know about each? We spoke with <a class="linkable-text" href="https://vinguptamd.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-testid="linkable-text">Vin Gupta, MD</a>, chief medical officer at Amazon, medical correspondent, and practicing pulmonologist, about the best timing to receive these vaccines, how long to wait if you’ve recently had an infection, common side effects to expect, and realistic insights into what <a class="linkable-text" href="https://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/immunizations-vaccines-power-of-preparation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-testid="linkable-text">vaccines</a> can and cannot do to protect our health this season. Whether you’re weighing a vaccine for yourself or a loved one, here’s what you need to know about maximizing protection.</p>

WebMD Chief Physician Editor Neha Pathak, MD, and Chief Medical Officer, John Whyte, MD, MPH, explore fascinating stories to find the unexpected things that help us understand our health.

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As we enter the peak of  and  season, staying updated on recommended vaccinations has never been more critical. This year, flu shots and the latest  are top of mind – but what should we know about each? We spoke with , chief...