Flu (influenza) is a respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs and spread from person to person. Most people recover on their own, but flu can cause complications and even death. People at higher risk include those 65 and older, children under 5, pregnant people and people with certain health conditions. A yearly flu vaccine is the best way to lower the risk.
Benefits
A flu shot:
- may keep you from getting the flu, or make it less severe if you do;
- makes complications and hospitalization less likely;
- helps keep chronic conditions such as COPD or diabetes from worsening badly enough to need a hospital stay;
- in pregnancy, protects you during and after pregnancy and protects your baby for the first few months of life;
- has been shown to lower the risk of severe, life-threatening flu in children;
- may protect the people around you, including those at higher risk.
How it works
About two weeks after the shot, your immune system makes antibodies that protect against the flu viruses in the vaccine.
Who should get one
CDC recommends a flu vaccine every year for everyone 6 months and older, with rare exceptions — especially people at high risk of complications. Vaccines come as shots or nasal spray, and some are made especially for people 65 and older; ask your provider which is right for you.
| Don't get a flu shot if you… | Talk to your provider first if you… |
|---|---|
| are younger than 6 months | are allergic to any vaccine ingredient |
| have a severe, life-threatening allergy to flu vaccine or an ingredient such as gelatin or antibiotics | have ever had Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) — some people with GBS shouldn't be vaccinated |
| are moderately or severely ill — you'll usually wait until you recover |
Why every year
- Protection from the vaccine fades over time.
- Flu viruses keep changing, so each year's vaccine is updated for the viruses most likely to circulate.
When
- For most people needing one dose, September and October are good times; aim to be vaccinated by the end of October.
- Some children need two doses: the first as soon as vaccine is available, the second at least four weeks later.
- If you're pregnant, ask your provider about timing, which depends on how far along you are.
Side effects
Flu vaccines are safe, but like any medical product they can cause side effects — usually mild and gone within a few days:
- soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given;
- headache, fever, nausea, muscle aches.
Like other injections, a flu shot occasionally causes fainting, and rarely a serious allergic reaction.
Sources
Based on the MedlinePlus health topic "Flu Shot," National Library of Medicine, with a summary from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
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