This comes as the CDC's warns of "high activity" of the virus in Colorado, Louisiana and New York.
The Minnesota Department of Health's Melissa McMahon says right now only about 20% of Minnesota's have been vaccinated as we head into a busy holiday travel season.
"We are working on trying to get the word out, to get more people to get the flu vaccine. It takes about two weeks for the flu vaccine to become effective, so now is a really great time to get it if people haven't gotten it already."
McMahon says with 266 Minnesotans already being hospitalized from the flu this season, it's important to wash your hands and even wear a mask at the airport when traveling through states with high infection rates.
"It's just kind of important to keep yourself safe, to get yourself vaccinated against influenza and COVID if you haven't and RSV if you're eligible. It's just really important to get all of your recommended vaccines
She added that maintaining proper hygiene, and staying home when your sick can help curb a holiday surge. As of last week there have been 266 flu related hospitalizations in Minnesota.
The 2025-2026 influenza season has seen a bit of a surge, with Louisiana leading the nation as the only state currently classified with "High" Influenza-Like Illness activity.
New York and Colorado are also documenting significant and increasing "Moderate" ILI levels, with New York reporting over 17,700 confirmed cases and Colorado noting the circulation of the H3N2 "subclade K" variant.
Nationally, the dominant strain is Influenza A(H3N2), accounting for over 82% of subtyped viruses.
The documented surge in these states establishes a concerning upward trajectory that regional data indicates is now contributing to an expected uptick in flu cases across the Midwest, including Minnesota.