Make a Strong

Flu Vaccine Recommendation

Information for Health Care Professionals

CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an influenza (flu) vaccine every year. Flu vaccine 

has been shown to prevent millions of illnesses, tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands 

of deaths each year. 

Your Vaccine Recommendation is Critical 

As a health care professional (HCP), your strong 

recommendation is a critical factor in whether your 

patients get an influenza vaccine. Research indicates 

that adults are more likely to get their flu vaccine if 

their doctor or health care professional recommends 

it to them. Most adults believe vaccines are important, 

but they need a reminder from you to get vaccinated. 

When to Vaccinate 

• CDC recommends that vaccination should be offered 

in September or October. However, vaccination 

should continue throughout flu season as long as 

influenza viruses are circulating, even into January 

or later.

• If you do not offer vaccine at your facility, make a flu 

vaccine referral, and then follow up with each patient during subsequent appointments to ensure they 

got vaccinated. If the patient remains unvaccinated, repeat the recommendation/referral and try to 

identify and address any questions or concerns.

How to Make a Strong Flu Vaccine Recommendation 

Based on years of research into vaccine motivators, CDC has developed a mnemonic device to help HCPs 

make a strong vaccine recommendation. This method known as “SHARE” can help you to make a strong 

vaccine recommendation and provide important information to help patients make informed decisions 

about vaccinations.

S- SHARE the reasons why an influenza vaccine is right for the patient given his or her age, health status, 

lifestyle, occupation, or other risk factors CDC recommends annual vaccination for everyone 6 months and 

older with any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine with no preference expressed for one vaccine over 

another.

“This vaccine can protect you and your family from getting sick from flu. By getting the vaccine today, 

you’ll be protecting yourself and the people around you who may be more vulnerable to serious flu illness, 

like your children and parents.”

H- HIGHLIGHTpositive experiences with influenza vaccines (personal or in your practice), as appropriate, to 

reinforce the benefits and strengthen confidence in flu vaccination.

“The CDC recommends to tell your patients that CDC and you recommend they get an influenza

vaccine each year.” 
CS HCVG-15-FLU-112 August 2020

Vaccine type Vaccine description Recommended for*

Quadrivalent 

(4-component) Inactivated 

Influenza Vaccine (IIV4)

Injectable inactivated vaccine containing the 

influenza A(H1N1), (H3N2) and two influenza B 

lineage viruses predicted to be most common

People 6 months and older

Live Attenuated Influenza 

Vaccine (LAIV)

Intranasal live attenuated vaccine containing the 

influenza A(H1N1), (H3N2) and two influenza B 

lineage viruses predicted to be most common 

Healthy non-pregnant people 2 

through 49 years of age

Quadrivalent Cell CultureBased Inactivated Influenza 

Vaccine (ccIIV4)

Injectable inactivated influenza vaccine 

manufactured using cell culture rather than eggs, 

containing the influenza A(H1N1), (H3N2) and two 

influenza B lineage viruses predicted to be most 

common

People 4 years and older

Quadrivalent Recombinant 

influenza Vaccine (RIV4)

Injectable influenza vaccine produced without 

the use of influenza viruses or eggs; Contains the 

influenza A(H1N1), (H3N2) and two influenza B 

lineage viruses predicted to be most common

Adults 18 years and older

Trivalent and Quadrivalent 

Adjuvanted Inactivated 

Influenza Vaccine (aIIV3 and 

aIIV4)

Injectable inactivated influenza vaccine containing 

MF59 adjuvant, designed to help promote a stronger 

immune response in older adults; Contains the 

influenza A(H1N1), (H3N2) and one or two influenza B 

viruses predicted to be most common

Adults 65 years and older

Quadrivalent High-Dose 

Inactivated Influenza 

Vaccine (HD-IIV4)

Injectable inactivated influenza vaccine containing 

four times the antigen of a standard-dose influenza 

vaccine, designed to help promote a stronger 

immune response in older adults; Contains the 

influenza A(H1N1), (H3N2) and two influenza B 

viruses predicted to be most common

Adults 65 years and older

*

 Licensed ages vary for different brands; consult package insert for appropriate ages for specific vaccines 

A- ADDRESS patient questions and any concerns about influenza vaccines, including for example, side effects, 

safety, and vaccine effectiveness, in plain and understandable language.

“A flu vaccine cannot cause flu infection. The most common side effects of an influenza vaccine are mild, like 

redness, swelling, soreness, or a low-grade fever for a flu shot. This should go away within a few days.”

R- REMIND patients that influenza vaccines protect them and their loves ones from serious flu illness and flurelated complications.

“Flu activity is going to start to pick up, and CDC says to expect more cases in the coming months. That is why 

I want to make sure I help protect you and your loved ones.”

E- EXPLAIN the potential costs of getting the flu, including serious health effects and time lost (such

as missing work or family obligations).

“It’s important to get vaccinated this season because flu vaccination can reduce potential flu illnesses,doctor 

visits, and missed work and school due to flu.”

Types of Vaccines Available

For the 2020-2021 flu season, providers may choose to administer any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine — 

inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV3 or IIV4), recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV4) or live attenuated influenza 

vaccine (LAIV4):

For more information, visit: www.cdc.gov/flu

or call 1-800-CDC-INFO