People 65 Years and Older Need a Flu Shot

For more information, visit:

www.cdc.gov/flu

or call 1-800-CDC-INFO

Influenza (flu) can be a serious illness, 

especially for older adults.

FACT: People 65 years and older are at high 

risk of developing serious complications from 

flu, compared with young, healthy adults.

This risk is due in part to changes in immune 

defenses with increasing age. While flu seasons 

vary in severity during most seasons, people 65 

years and older bear the greatest burden of 

severe flu disease. In recent years, it’s estimated 

that between 70 percent and 85 percent of 

seasonal flu-related deaths in the United States 

occur among people 65 years and older, and 

between about 50 percent and 70 percent of 

seasonal flu-related hospitalizations have 

occurred among people in this age group.

An annual flu vaccine is the best 

way to reduce your risk of flu and its 

potentially serious consequences.

FACT: While flu vaccine can vary in how 

well it works, vaccination is the best way 

to prevent flu and its potentially serious 

complications.

Flu vaccination has been shown to reduce the risk 

of flu illness and more serious flu outcomes that 

can result in hospitalization or even death in older 

people. While some people who get vaccinated 

may still get sick, flu vaccination has been shown in 

several studies to reduce severity of illness in

those people.

Information for adults 65 years and older

People 65 years and older should get 

a flu shot, not a nasal spray vaccine. 

They can get any flu shot approved 

for use in their age group with no 

preference for any one vaccine over 

another. There are regular flu shots 

and there also are also enhanced 

vaccines approved for use in people 

65 and older that may provide a 

better immune response. 

1. A high dose flu vaccine

(Fluzone® High-Dose) contains 

4 times the amount of antigen as 

a regular flu shot. The additional 

antigen creates a stronger 

immune response (more antibody) 

in the person getting vaccinated.

2. An adjuvanted vaccine 

(FLUADTM) is a standard dose flu 

vaccine with an adjuvant added. 

An adjuvant is an ingredient 

added to a vaccine to help 

create a stronger immune 

response to vaccination.
CS HCVG-15-FLU-105 Last Updated September 11, 2020

Flu shots have a good safety record and do not cause flu.

FACT: The side effects of flu shots are mild when 

compared to potentially serious consequences of 

flu infection.

After getting your flu shot, you may experience some 

mild side effects. The most common side effects include 

soreness, tenderness, redness and/or swelling where the 

shot was given. Sometimes you might have headache, 

muscle aches, fever, and nausea or feel tired. The high 

dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines may result in more of 

the mild side effects.

Long-term medical conditions can 

also put you at high risk of serious flu 

complications.

FACT: Flu can make long-term health problems worse, even if they are

well managed.

Diabetes, asthma, and chronic heart disease (even if well managed) are among the most 

common long-term medical conditions that place people at high risk of developing serious 

flu complications. It is particularly important that all adults with these or other chronic 

medical conditions get a flu shot every year.

FACT: There are prescription drugs that can treat influenza virus infections. 

People 65 years and older should be treated with influenza antiviral drugs if 

they get sick with flu.

If you have flu symptoms--even if you had a flu shot--call your doctor, nurse, or clinic. 

Doctors can prescribe medicine, called antiviral drugs, to treat flu and lessen the chance 

of serious illness. These medicines work better the sooner they are started. Call if you have 

any or all of the following symptoms:

• Fever 

• Cough

• Sore Throat

• Runny or stuffy nose

• Muscle or body aches

• Headache

• Chills

• Fatigue (tiredness)

• Sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

It’s very important that antiviral drugs be used early to treat flu in people who are very sick with 

flu (for example, people who are in the hospital), and people who are sick with flu and are at 

high risk of developing serious flu complications, like people 65 years and older.

Take control of your health and fight flu this season with an annual flu vaccine.

For more information about the flu or the vaccine, 

call 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/.