AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Flu—Get the Shot

Each winter, millions of people suffer 

from seasonal flu. Flu—the short name 

for influenza—is caused by viruses. 

Viruses are very small germs. 

Some viruses can spread easily 

from one person to another. 

They cause illnesses or 

infections like the flu.

Flu is a mild 

illness for some people. 

For older people, especially 

those who have health problems 

like diabetes or heart disease, 

the flu can be very serious, even 

life threatening.

How Serious Is Flu?

Most people who get the flu feel much 

better in a week or two. But, some people 

can get very sick. For example, because 

your body is busy fighting off the flu, you 

might pick up a second infection. Older 

people are at great risk of these secondary 

infections, such as pneumonia. 

How Does Flu Spread?

It was mid-November, and Ellen had not 

gotten a flu shot. One day she was out having 

lunch with a friend and noticed people sneezing 

and coughing at the next table. Two days 

later, Ellen woke up feeling achy and had a 

fever. She had the flu. Her husband Jack took 

care of her and was careful to wash his hands 

after touching Ellen’s dishes. But, a few days 

later he too was sick. Maybe he used the phone 

just after Ellen finished talking with their 

son. Or maybe he touched a doorknob Ellen 

used after sneezing. Flu spreads easily from 

one person to another.

The flu is contagious—that means it 

spreads from person to person, often 

through the air. You can pass on the 

infection before you feel sick. You are 

contagious for several days after you get 

sick. You can catch the flu when someone 

near you coughs or sneezes. Or if you 

touch something the virus is on, like Ellen 

and Jack’s phone or doorknob, and then 

touch your nose or mouth, you could 

catch the flu. The flu virus can live on a 

surface like a book or doorknob for a 

number of hours. Remember to wash 

your hands often when you are around 

someone who is sick. Make a point of 

washing them before eating and touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you 

can, stay away from sick people. That 

will help stop the flu from spreading.
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Flu—Get the Shot

Each winter, millions of people suffer 

from seasonal flu. Flu—the short name 

for influenza—is caused by viruses. 

Viruses are very small germs. 

Some viruses can spread easily 

from one person to another. 

They cause illnesses or 

infections like the flu.

Flu is a mild 

illness for some 

people. For older people, 

especially those who have 

health problems like diabetes 

or heart disease, the flu can be 

very serious, even life threatening.

How Serious Is Flu?

Most people who get the flu feel much 

better in a week or two. But, some people 

can get very sick. For example, because 

your body is busy fighting off the flu, you 

might pick up a second infection. Older 

people are at great risk of these secondary 

infections, such as pneumonia. 

How Does Flu Spread?

It was mid-November, and Ellen had not 

gotten a flu shot. One day she was out having 

lunch with a friend and noticed people sneezing 

and coughing at the next table. Two days 

later, Ellen woke up feeling achy and had a 

fever. She had the flu. Her husband Jack took 

care of her and was careful to wash his hands 

after touching Ellen’s dishes. But, a few days 

later he too was sick. Maybe he used the phone 

just after Ellen finished talking with their 

son. Or maybe he touched a doorknob Ellen 

used after sneezing. Flu spreads easily from 

one person to another.

The flu is contagious—that means it 

spreads from person to person, often 

through the air. You can pass on the 

infection before you feel sick. You are 

contagious for several days after you get 

sick. You can catch the flu when someone 

near you coughs or sneezes. Or if you 

touch something the virus is on, like Ellen 

and Jack’s phone or doorknob, and then 

touch your nose or mouth, you could 

catch the flu. The flu virus can live on a 

surface like a book or doorknob for a 

number of hours. Remember to wash 

your hands often when you are around 

someone who is sick. Make a point of 

washing them before eating and touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you 

can, stay away from sick people. That 

will help stop the flu from spreading.
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

Flu—Get the Shot

Each winter, millions of people suffer 

from seasonal flu. Flu—the short name 

for influenza—is caused by viruses. 

Viruses are very small germs. 

Some viruses can spread easily 

from one person to another. 

They cause illnesses or 

infections like the flu.

Flu is a mild 

illness for some 

people. For older people, 

especially those who have 

health problems like diabetes 

or heart disease, the flu can be 

very serious, even life threatening.

How Serious Is Flu?

Most people who get the flu feel much 

better in a week or two. But, some people 

can get very sick. For example, because 

your body is busy fighting off the flu, you 

might pick up a second infection. Older 

people are at great risk of these secondary 

infections, such as pneumonia. 
6 7 

treat people with the flu. If you take them 

within 48 hours after the flu begins, these 

drugs can make you feel better more 

quickly. Antibiotics do not help you get 

over the flu. They are sometimes prescribed to help you get over a secondary 

infection if it is caused by bacteria. Bacteria 

are a different type of germ than viruses.

Antivirals can also be used to prevent 

flu. If you hear that there is a flu outbreak 

in your area, check with your doctor. 

He or she could prescribe an antiviral 

that might protect you. Prevention is 

key. The first choice for preventing the 

flu is a flu shot.

If you are sick, try to rest in bed and 

drink plenty of fluids, like juice and water 

but not alcohol. Medicine such as aspirin 

or acetaminophen can bring down your 

fever, which might help with the aches 

and pains. It is important not to smoke if 

you are sick with the flu. It is a respiratory 

illness that can infect your lungs, as well 

as your nasal passages. These same areas 

are also bothered by smoking. Take it easy 

as much as you can until you are well.

What About the “Bird Flu”?

Sometimes a new, different kind of 

flu virus appears. You may have heard 

about the avian or bird flu. This flu is an 

example of how changes in a flu virus 

might lead to serious illness. However, 

It is important to check 

with your doctor when 

you first get the flu. Also, 

call your doctor if: 

F Your fever goes away and then 

comes back; you may have a 

more dangerous infection.

F You start having breathing or 

heart problems or other serious 

health problems.

F You feel sick and don’t seem to 

be getting better.

F You have a cough that begins to 

make thick mucus.

If you are allergic to eggs, you 

should not get the flu shot. Because 

eggs are used to make the flu vaccine, 

people who are allergic to eggs could 

have a serious reaction to the shot.

What Can I Do if I Get the Flu?

If you get the flu, there are things 

you can do to feel better. First, call your 

doctor to see if there are medicines that 

can help. Remind him or her if you are 

taking drugs to fight cancer or other 

medicines that make it hard for your body 

to fight illness. There are prescription 

drugs, called antivirals, that are used to 
6 7 

treat people with the flu. If you take them 

within 48 hours after the flu begins, these 

drugs can make you feel better more 

quickly. Antibiotics do not help you get 

over the flu. They are sometimes prescribed to help you get over a secondary 

infection if it is caused by bacteria. Bacteria 

are a different type of germ than viruses.

Antivirals can also be used to prevent 

flu. If you hear that there is a flu outbreak 

in your area, check with your doctor. 

He or she could prescribe an antiviral 

that might protect you. Prevention is 

key. The first choice for preventing the 

flu is a flu shot.

If you are sick, try to rest in bed and 

drink plenty of fluids, like juice and water 

but not alcohol. Medicine such as aspirin 

or acetaminophen can bring down your 

fever, which might help with the aches 

and pains. It is important not to smoke if 

you are sick with the flu. It is a respiratory 

illness that can infect your lungs, as well 

as your nasal passages. These same areas 

are also bothered by smoking. Take it easy 

as much as you can until you are well.

What About the “Bird Flu”?

Sometimes a new, different kind of 

flu virus appears. You may have heard 

about the avian or bird flu. This flu is an 

example of how changes in a flu virus 

might lead to serious illness. However, 

It is important to check 

with your doctor when 

you first get the flu. Also, 

call your doctor if: 

F Your fever goes away and then 

comes back; you may have a 

more dangerous infection.

F You start having breathing or 

heart problems or other serious 

health problems.

F You feel sick and don’t seem to 

be getting better.

F You have a cough that begins to 

make thick mucus.

If you are allergic to eggs, you 

should not get the flu shot. Because 

eggs are used to make the flu vaccine, 

people who are allergic to eggs could 

have a serious reaction to the shot.

What Can I Do if I Get the Flu?

If you get the flu, there are things 

you can do to feel better. First, call your 

doctor to see if there are medicines that 

can help. Remind him or her if you are 

taking drugs to fight cancer or other 

medicines that make it hard for your body 

to fight illness. There are prescription 

drugs, called antivirals, that are used to 
6 

It is important to check 

with your doctor when 

you first get the flu. Also, 

call your doctor if: 

F Your fever goes away and then 

comes back; you may have a 

more dangerous infection.

F You start having breathing or 

heart problems or other serious 

health problems.

F You feel sick and don’t seem to 

be getting better.

F You have a cough that begins to 

make thick mucus.

If you are allergic to eggs, you 

should not get the flu shot. Because 

eggs are used to make the flu vaccine, 

people who are allergic to eggs could 

have a serious reaction to the shot.

What Can I Do if I Get the Flu?

If you get the flu, there are things 

you can do to feel better. First, call your 

doctor to see if there are medicines that 

can help. Remind him or her if you are 

taking drugs to fight cancer or other 

medicines that make it hard for your body 

to fight illness. There are prescription 

drugs, called antivirals, that are used to