CDC Says

“Take 3” 

Actions

To Fight Flu

• fever* or feeling 

feverish/chills

• cough

• sore throat

• runny or stuffy nose 

• muscle and body aches

• headaches

• fatigue (tiredness) 

• sometimes diarrhea and vomiting, 

though this is more common in 

children than adults

*It’s important to note that not 

everyone with flu will have a fever. 

Flu symptoms 

can include:

For more information, visit 

www.cdc.gov/flu

or call 800-CDC-INFO.

Department of Health 

and Human Services

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention

July 2020

318249-A

Flu is a serious 

contagious disease 

that can lead to 

hospitalization and 

even death.
• CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most 

important action to protect against flu and its potentially serious 

complications. During 2020-2021, getting a flu vaccine will be more 

important than ever.

• Flu vaccination has been shown to:

» Reduce the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk 

of flu-related death.

» Prevent serious medical events associated with diabetes and 

heart and lung disease. For example, flu vaccination can lower 

the risk of having a heart attack in people with heart disease.

» Protect women from flu during and after pregnancy and 

protecting their babies from flu after birth for several months. 

» Flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce 

severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick. 

» Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you 

from flu, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu 

illness, like babies and young children, older people, and people 

with certain chronic health conditions. 

• By reducing the burden of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths 

on the healthcare system, getting a flu vaccine can help to conserve 

scarce medical resources for the care of people with COVID-19. 

• While there are many different flu viruses, flu vaccines protect 

against the three or four viruses that research suggests will be most 

common. Flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19.

• Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu vaccine 

annually by the end of October, but vaccination of high risk persons 

is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.

» People at high risk of serious flu complications include young 

children, pregnant women, people with certain chronic health 

conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart and lung disease and 

people 65 years and older. Many people at higher risk from 

flu also seem to be at higher risk from COVID-19.

 Take time to 

get a flu vaccine.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people. 

• While sick, limit your contact with others as much as 

possible to keep from infecting them. 

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough 

or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. 

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and 

water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. 

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread 

this way. 

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be 

contaminated with germs like flu. 

• For flu, CDC recommends that people stay home for at least 

24 hours after their fever is gone except to get medical 

care or other necessities. Fever should be gone without the 

need to use a fever-reducing medicine. The stay-at-home 

guidance for COVID-19 may be different.

• In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, local 

governments or public health departments may 

recommend additional precautions be taken in your 

community. Follow those instructions.

• If you get sick with flu, antiviral drugs can be used to treat your 

illness. Flu antiviral drugs are not designed to treat COVID-19.

• Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. They are 

prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) and 

are not available over-the-counter. 

• Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time 

you are sick. They may also prevent serious flu complications. 

For people with high risk factors, treatment with an antiviral 

drug can mean the difference between having a milder illness 

versus a very serious illness that could result in a hospital stay. 

• CDC recommends prompt treatment for people who have 

influenza infection or suspected influenza infection and who 

are at high risk of serious flu complications. 

• Studies show that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment 

when they are started within 2 days of getting sick, but 

starting them later can still be helpful, especially if the sick 

person has a high risk factor or is very sick from flu.

• If you are at higher risk from flu and get flu symptoms, call 

your health care provider early so you can be treated with flu 

antivirals if needed. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking 

this drug.

 Take everyday preventive 

 actions to help reduce the 

spread of germs.

 Take flu antiviral drugs if 

your doctor prescribes them.

CDC urges you to take the following actions to protect yourself and others from influenza (flu):

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