U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services 

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention 

VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT

Many Vaccine Information Statements are 

available in Spanish and other languages. 

See www.immunize.org/vis

Hojas de información sobre vacunas están 

disponibles en español y en muchos otros 

idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/vis

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine 

(Inactivated or Recombinant): 

What you need to know

1 Why get vaccinated?

Influenza (“flu”) is a contagious disease that spreads 

around the United States every year, usually between 

October and May.

Flu is caused by influenza viruses, and is spread mainly 

by coughing, sneezing, and close contact.

Anyone can get flu. Flu strikes suddenly and can last 

several days. Symptoms vary by age, but can include:

• fever/chills

• sore throat

• muscle aches

• fatigue

• cough

• headache

• runny or stuffy nose

Flu can also lead to pneumonia and blood infections, and 

cause diarrhea and seizures in children. If you have a 

medical condition, such as heart or lung disease, flu can 

make it worse.

Flu is more dangerous for some people. Infants and 

young children, people 65 years of age and older, 

pregnant women, and people with certain health 

conditions or a weakened immune system are at 

greatest risk. 

Each year thousands of people in the United States die 

from flu, and many more are hospitalized.

Flu vaccine can:

• keep you from getting flu,

• make flu less severe if you do get it, and

• keep you from spreading flu to your family and 

other people.

2 Inactivated and recombinant 

flu vaccines

A dose of flu vaccine is recommended every flu season. 

Children 6 months through 8 years of age may need two 

doses during the same flu season. Everyone else needs 

only one dose each flu season.

Some inactivated flu vaccines contain a very small 

amount of a mercury-based preservative called 

thimerosal. Studies have not shown thimerosal in 

vaccines to be harmful, but flu vaccines that do not 

contain thimerosal are available.

There is no live flu virus in flu shots. They cannot cause 

the flu.

There are many flu viruses, and they are always 

changing. Each year a new flu vaccine is made to protect 

against three or four viruses that are likely to cause 

disease in the upcoming flu season. But even when the 

vaccine doesn’t exactly match these viruses, it may still 

provide some protection.

Flu vaccine cannot prevent:

• flu that is caused by a virus not covered by the vaccine, 

or

• illnesses that look like flu but are not.

It takes about 2 weeks for protection to develop after 

vaccination, and protection lasts through the flu season.

3 Some people should not get 

this vaccine

Tell the person who is giving you the vaccine:

• If you have any severe, life-threatening allergies. 

If you ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction 

after a dose of flu vaccine, or have a severe allergy to 

any part of this vaccine, you may be advised not to 

get vaccinated. Most, but not all, types of flu vaccine 

contain a small amount of egg protein. 

• If you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (also 

called GBS).

Some people with a history of GBS should not get this 

vaccine. This should be discussed with your doctor.

• If you are not feeling well. 

It is usually okay to get flu vaccine when you have 

a mild illness, but you might be asked to come back 

when you feel better.
4 Risks of a vaccine reaction

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance 

of reactions. These are usually mild and go away on their 

own, but serious reactions are also possible.

Most people who get a flu shot do not have any problems 

with it.

Minor problems following a flu shot include:

• soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was 

given 

• hoarseness

• sore, red or itchy eyes

• cough

• fever

• aches

• headache

• itching

• fatigue

If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the 

shot and last 1 or 2 days.

More serious problems following a flu shot can include 

the following:

• There may be a small increased risk of Guillain-Barré 

Syndrome (GBS) after inactivated flu vaccine. This 

risk has been estimated at 1 or 2 additional cases per 

million people vaccinated. This is much lower than the 

risk of severe complications from flu, which can be 

prevented by flu vaccine. 

• Young children who get the flu shot along with 

pneumococcal vaccine (PCV13) and/or DTaP vaccine 

at the same time might be slightly more likely to have 

a seizure caused by fever. Ask your doctor for more 

information. Tell your doctor if a child who is getting 

flu vaccine has ever had a seizure.

Problems that could happen after any injected 

vaccine:

• People sometimes faint after a medical procedure, 

including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 

15 minutes can help prevent fainting, and injuries 

caused by a fall. Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy, or 

have vision changes or ringing in the ears.

• Some people get severe pain in the shoulder and have 

difficulty moving the arm where a shot was given. This 

happens very rarely.

• Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. 

Such reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated 

at about 1 in a million doses, and would happen within 

a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a 

vaccine causing a serious injury or death.

The safety of vaccines is always being monitored. For 

more information, visit: www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/

5 What if there is a serious 

reaction?

What should I look for?

• Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs 

of a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or 

unusual behavior.

Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, 

swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, 

a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These 

would start a few minutes to a few hours after the 

vaccination.

What should I do?

• If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other 

emergency that can’t wait, call 9-1-1 and get the person 

to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.

• Reactions should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse 

Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your doctor should 

file this report, or you can do it yourself through the 

VAERS web site at www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 

1-800-822-7967.

VAERS does not give medical advice.

6 The National Vaccine Injury 

Compensation Program

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program 

(VICP) is a federal program that was created to 

compensate people who may have been injured by 

certain vaccines.

Persons who believe they may have been injured by a 

vaccine can learn about the program and about filing a 

claim by calling 1-800-338-2382 or visiting the VICP 

website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation. There 

is a time limit to file a claim for compensation.

7 How can I learn more?

• Ask your healthcare provider. He or she can give you 

the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of 

information.

• Call your local or state health department.

• Contact the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC):

- Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or

- Visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/flu

 Vaccine Information Statement

 Inactivated Influenza Vaccine

 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-26

08/07/2015

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