A Strong Defense Against Flu: 

Get Vaccinated!

The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones against influenza (flu) is to get a flu vaccine every 

flu season. Flu is a contagious respiratory disease that can lead to serious illness, hospitalization, or even 

death. CDC recommends everyone six months and older get an annual flu vaccine. 

What are some key reasons to get a flu vaccine?

• Every year, flu vaccination prevents illnesses, medical visits, 

hospitalizations, and deaths.

• Flu vaccination also is an important preventive tool for 

people with chronic health conditions. For example flu 

vaccination has been associated with lower rates of some 

cardiac events among in people with heart disease.

• Vaccinating pregnant women helps protect them from flu 

illness and hospitalization, and also has been shown to 

help protect the baby from flu infection for several months 

after birth, before the baby can be vaccinated.

• A 2017 study showed that flu vaccine can be life-saving 

in children.

• While some people who get vaccinated still get sick, flu 

vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce 

severity of illness.

Why is it important to get a flu vaccine EVERY year?

• Flu viruses are constantly changing, so flu vaccines may be 

updated from one season to the next to protect against the 

viruses that research suggests will be common during the 

upcoming flu season.

• Your protection from a flu vaccine declines over time. 

Yearly vaccination is needed for the best protection.

What kinds of flu vaccines are 

recommended? 
What kinds of flu vaccines are 

recommended?

There are several licensed and 

recommended flu vaccine 

options this season:

• Standard dose flu shots made

from virus grown in eggs.

• Shots made with adjuvant

and high dose for older 

adults.

• Shots made with virus grown

in cell culture instead of eggs.

• Shots made using a 

recombinant vaccine 

production technology that 

does not require the use of a 

flu virus.

• Live attenuated influenza 

vaccine (LAIV, the nasal spray 

vaccine), which is made with 

live, weakened influenza 

viruses. It is an option for 

people 2 through 49 years of 

age who are not pregnant.

CS HCVG-15-FLU-108 09/11/2020 

Is the flu vaccine safe?

Flu vaccines have a good safety record. Hundreds of millions of 

Americans have safely received flu vaccines over the past 50 years. 

Extensive research supports the safety of seasonal flu vaccines. 

Each year, CDC works with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA) and other partners to ensure the highest safety standards for 

flu vaccines. More information about the safety of flu vaccines is 

available at www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/vaccinesafety.htm.

What are the side effects of flu vaccines?

Flu shots: Flu shots are made using killed flu viruses (for inactivated 

vaccines), or without flu virus at all (for the recombinant vaccine). So, 

you cannot get flu from a flu shot. Some minor side effects that may 

occur include soreness, redness and/or swelling where the shot was 

given, low grade fever, and aches. 

Nasal spray flu vaccines: The viruses in nasal spray flu vaccines are 

weakened and do not cause the severe symptoms often associated 

with influenza illness. For adults, side effects from the nasal spray may 

include runny nose, headache, sore throat, and cough. For children, 

side effects may also include wheezing, vomiting, muscle aches, and 

fever. 

If these problems occur, they are usually mild and go away on their 

own, but serious reactions are also possible. Almost all people who 

receive flu vaccine have no serious problems from it. 

When and Where to get vaccinated? 

You should get a flu vaccine by the end of October. However, as long 

as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination should continue throughout 

flu season, even in January or later. 

Flu vaccines are offered in many doctors’ offices and clinics. Flu 

vaccine is available in many other locations, including health 

departments, pharmacies, urgent care clinics, health centers, and 

travel clinics. Vaccines may also be offered at your school, college 

health center, or workplace. Visit: www.vaccinefinder.org at to find a 

flu vaccination clinic near you.

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

call 1-800-CDC-INFO