Each year, a typical flu season sends millions of people to the doctor and hundreds of thousands to the hospital — and causes thousands of flu-related deaths. Even in a best-case scenario, a bout of flu means days of feeling miserable, missing work or school, and canceling plans. The best way to prevent this from happening to you is to get a flu shot or nasal vaccine. Here’s everything you need to know about how well immunization works, who should (and should not) get vaccinated, and how to manage side effects.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296164e4aa-852f-4c4b-84b5-16b5b5be054a
Who Should Get the Flu Vaccine? Who Should Get It Everyone 6 months old and up, with rare exceptions, should get the annual vaccine. Vaccination is especially important for certain vulnerable groups: People age 65 and older Young children People who are pregnant People with certain medical conditions Those with weakened immune systemse60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629655ccc11-7be3-4015-9be3-50bb9c1ff10a
Who Shouldn’t Get the Flu Vaccine? Who Shouldn’t According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), virtually everyone should get a flu shot. The only exceptions: Children under 6 months old should not get the flu shot. People who have severe, life-threatening allergies to the flu vaccine or any ingredients in the vaccine should not get the shot. This may include gelatin, antibiotics, or other ingredients. Severe allergic reactions to flu vaccines are very rare. Some people who have had a rare disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) should discuss their situation with a doctor.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762966537173-24d2-45eb-80c6-f48b9609d5f8
When Is the Best Time to Get a Flu Vaccine? Experts typically weigh two factors when recommending when to get the flu vaccine. Timing is one, which can be tricky because the onset, peak, and decline of flu season can vary from year to year. The other factor is convenience and opportunity — when people are most likely to get the flu shot. For some, trying to plan the perfect window may inadvertently result in not getting the vaccine at all. In general, the CDC recommends getting the flu shot in September or October.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d7dd0570-860c-4c02-b751-ed7ee09fb432 This allows for the strongest immunity against the virus when it’s typically at its peak, in December and January, and when exposure risk is highest due to traveling and gathering for the holidays. Finally, when planning when to get your flu vaccine, remember it takes two weeks to become fully effective.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297d5c61f5-7e45-45ec-a5be-a3ca2b0414e1
How Well Does the Flu Vaccine Work? Effectiveness Each year, an advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews and updates the composition of U.S. flu vaccines to best match the viral strains predicted to be the most common during the upcoming season.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629157226c6-63d8-4d89-8a96-92bbdb137c30 Vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness by between 40 and 60 percent during seasons when the vaccines are well matched to the viruses going around. The flu shot does not guarantee that you won’t come down with the flu for a number of reasons. Flu viruses are constantly changing (mutating), making it possible for them to evade the protections people have built up through flu vaccines.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e776c7e0-f8ec-4f5d-a8cd-d73789858f79 Sometimes the strains selected for the seasonal flu vaccine are a poor match to the circulating strains.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629906cfe11-f849-4b55-b438-8bb8438dc4aa In addition, some older people and those with chronic health conditions may develop less immunity after vaccination.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629157226c6-63d8-4d89-8a96-92bbdb137c30 But while flu vaccines are not 100 percent effective, people who are immunized are less likely to develop flu complications than people who aren’t. It’s estimated that between 2010 and 2020, the yearly jab has prevented 719,000 hospitalizations and 60,000 deaths in the United States.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298ea83073-3196-4769-b2b5-9a3896651a28
What Are the Different Kinds of Flu Vaccines? All flu vaccines for the 2024–25 flu season are trivalent vaccines, which means they protect against three different influenza viruses, including two influenza A viruses and an influenza B/Victoria virus. Different Types of Flu Shots For anyone 6 months and older: Standard-Dose Shot Made with a virus grown in chicken eggs. Cell-Based Shot These contain viruses grown in a culture made from mammal cells. This vaccine is egg-free. For anyone 18 and older: Recombinant Shot These are synthetically created, egg-free vaccines. Flu Vaccination by Jet Injector This medical device uses a high-pressure, narrow stream of fluid to penetrate the skin instead of a needle. It’s approved for use in people 18 through 64 years old.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290716db70-9fe3-4af6-b472-196f3477ba9b For adults 65 and older: High-Dose Shot These shots contain a higher dose of antigen to help create a stronger immune response. Shot Made With an Adjuvant These shots contain an ingredient called an adjuvant that helps create a stronger immune response.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290c43fd15-2732-4823-b19f-f36f7c23d830 Nasal Flu Vaccine The FluMist nasal flu vaccine contains live virus and is given via the nose. It’s approved for people ages 2 through 49 years old. You can get this vaccine at the doctor’s office, healthcare clinic, or pharmacy, and it will soon be available to give to yourself or your children at home. The nasal flu vaccine isn’t recommended for some people:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292d0759c0-30ea-4fa9-8102-1da584c3bf95 Those who’ve had a severe allergic reaction to a flu vaccine in the past Pregnant people Young people who take aspirin or a salicylate-containing medicine People with weakened immune systems and those who are caregivers or close contacts of them Children between ages 2 and 4 years old diagnosed with asthma or wheezing in the past 12 months People who recently took antiviral medicine for the flu People with a cerebrospinal fluid leak or the potential for a leak, as with a cochlear implant
What Are Side Effects of the Flu Vaccine? Side Effects The most common side effect of a flu shot is soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site. Some people also develop other minor symptoms, including:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296300fc5b-49a2-4cfe-af99-ff435fead830 Low-grade fever Headache Achiness Fatigue Nausea The most common side effects of FluMist nasal spray vaccine are fever in children 2 to 6 years old, runny nose and nasal congestion in people 2 through 49 years old, and sore throat in adults.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e2a75c49-ad5b-4c34-8886-462b2b9244b5
Possible Complications of the Flu Vaccine Some studies have found a possible small link between the flu shot and Guillain-Barré syndrome, a progressive nerve disorder that can cause profound weakness for weeks or longer. Overall, these studies estimated the risk after vaccination as fewer than 1 or 2 cases per one million people vaccinated.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291c5b1b10-4a59-407a-93d7-fa6b9b5e6dda As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance that a flu vaccine can cause a serious allergic reaction ( anaphylaxis ), other serious injury, or even death. The CDC has announced a change that began in 2023–2024 related to recommendations for flu vaccines for people with egg allergies. Although almost all flu vaccines today continue to be produced using an egg-based manufacturing process (and contain a small amount of egg proteins, such as ovalbumin), the current recommendation is that it’s safe for people with egg allergies to receive any flu vaccine — egg-based or non-egg-based — that is appropriate for their age and health status. Additional safety measures used to be recommended, but that’s no longer the case.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299d0c146e-8a32-4b46-89f7-bccdb8fd6474
Can the Flu Vaccine Give You the Flu? There are a few reasons why someone might feel like they’ve gotten sick because of getting vaccinated. Vaccine side effects: Some people have muscle aches and a fever for a day or two after receiving a flu vaccine. This may be a side effect of your body’s production of protective antibodies. The two-week window: It takes about two weeks for the flu shot to take full effect, and so if you’re exposed to the influenza virus shortly before or during that time period, you might catch the flu. Other illnesses: Some people may experience what they believe are flu symptoms after being vaccinated because they become ill from different respiratory viruses.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629afd0d7c9-4b00-48f7-88b4-92e254b0dda4
Can You Get a Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine at the Same Time? Yes, it’s safe for people to get more than one vaccine at the same time. You can choose to get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines in separate arms, or the same arm (at least one inch apart).e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c4ece685-c29c-42ec-9699-af0a75d0322e Although getting the vaccines at the same time won’t change their efficacy, adding the flu shot to your updated COVID shot may increase the likelihood of side effects including fatigue, headache, and muscle aches.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c47043c4-e333-464b-95ad-9aededf85531
Where to Get a Flu Vaccine Near You It’s perfectly safe to get your flu shot at your local pharmacy or grocery store. The online governmental directory VaccineFinder can show you locations in your area that offer flu shots. Beginning as soon as 2025, the FluMist nasal spray vaccine will be available for home use.
Flu Vaccine Cost and Insurance Coverage Cost Once you locate where you will get your flu vaccine, reach out to the pharmacy or provider’s office to confirm they take your insurance, or you can call your insurance company directly. Most recommended vaccines, including the flu vaccine, are covered by health insurance. Medicaid and Medicare Part D pay for all recommended vaccines.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c6765a63-c297-4231-b1ae-332731880d62 If you don’t have insurance, the cost will vary depending on where you go. The shot can cost anywhere between $60 and $120, depending on the type of flu vaccine and where you get it.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299b37935c-198e-48ce-a0d5-5e6e17d5039d
The Takeaway The flu vaccine significantly reduces the risk of severe illness, making it essential for nearly everyone age 6 months and older to get vaccinated annually. Getting vaccinated in September or October provides the best protection during peak flu season, as it takes about two weeks for immunity to develop. Various flu vaccine types are available, including nasal sprays for people who dislike needles and high-dose shots for seniors, catering to different age groups and needs.
Resources We Trust Mayo Clinic: Flu Shot: Your Best Bet for Avoiding InfluenzaCleveland Clinic: Flu Shot Myths: Separating Fact from FictionCenters for Disease Control and Prevention: Who Needs a Flu VaccineVaccines.Gov: Vaccines Can Help You Stay Healthy. Get Yours NowYale New Haven Health: Flu Symptoms and When to Get Your Flu Shot
