Each winter, millions of people suffer from the flu. The flu, short for influenza, is a virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. It spreads from person to person, such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Usually the flu is a mild disease in healthy children, young adults, and middle-aged people. However, it can be life-threatening in older adults and in people of any age who have chronic problems, such as diabetes, chronic lung disease, asthma, or heart failure. Pregnant women are also at high risk.
Influenza VaccineWhat is the flu?Each winter, millions of people suffer from the flu. The flu, short for influenza, is a virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. It spreads from person to person, such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Usually the flu is a mild disease in healthy children, young adults, and middle-aged people. However, it can be life-threatening in older adults and in people of any age who have chronic problems, such as diabetes, chronic lung disease, asthma, or heart failure. Pregnant women are also at high risk.SymptomsThe flu can cause:Fever Chills Dry cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose HeadacheMuscle aches And extreme fatigue Some symptoms, such as fatigue and cough, can last a few weeks. Children may have upset stomach or vomiting, but adults usually don’t. Serious and possibly life-threatening complications are rare. While your body is busy fighting off the flu, you may be less able to resist other infections such as pneumonia. These secondary infections can be especially dangerous to older adults, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses. In an average year, flu leads to thousands of deaths nationwide and many more hospitalizations. Why get a flu vaccine? A flu vaccine can greatly lower the chances of getting the flu, as well as preventing much of the illness and death caused by influenza. Vaccines are updated every year to target rapidly adapting flu viruses, and last year’s vaccine might not be effective against this year’s viruses.Who should get a flu vaccine?According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each year. Certain people are at higher risk for complications if they get the flu, including:Older adults Very young childrenPregnant womenAnd people with chronic conditions such as heart or lung disease or diabetesPeople who live with or care for people at high risk for flu complications should also get a flu shot every year.Types of vaccineThere are different ways of getting the vaccine.The “flu shot” is an inactivated vaccine given with a needle, usually into a muscle in the arm. This type of vaccine is used in healthy people older than 6 months, including people with chronic medical conditions.A nasal-spray flu vaccine is made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu. The nasal-spray vaccine is approved for use in healthy people 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.Ask your healthcare provider about new vaccines that might be available, such as those designed specifically for people 65 years and older.When to get a flu vaccineEach year's flu virus is usually slightly different from the previous year's virus. For this reason, the flu vaccine is updated yearly to include the most current strains of the influenza virus. A new vaccine must be given each year to ensure up-to-date protection. Flu season in the U.S. usually occurs from November until April. Most people get the flu between late December and early March. The best time to get your flu vaccine is as soon as it is available, usually in September. It takes about 1 to 2 weeks after you get the vaccine to develop protection. The flu vaccine is available at your healthcare provider’s office, the health department, and many pharmacies.Side effectsLife-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very uncommon. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after getting the vaccine. With rare exceptions, the danger from getting the flu, and possibly pneumonia, is far greater than the danger from the side effects of the vaccine.Side effects of the flu shot might include:Some soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot is givenLow-grade fever AchesThe live influenza vaccine viruses in the nasal-spray vaccine very rarely spread from person to person. If they do, it’s very unlikely to cause an illness.Mild side effects include:Runny noseNasal congestion or cough Sore throatFeverMuscle achesWheezing Abdominal pain or occasional vomiting or diarrheaPeople who have any of the following conditions should check with their healthcare provider before receiving a flu vaccine:Anyone who has a severe allergy to chicken eggs. Anyone who has previously had severe reactions to the flu vaccine. And anyone who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of receiving a previous flu vaccine. Those with a moderate to severe illness with fever should wait until they are fully better before getting a vaccine. Children younger than 6 months are too young to get a flu shot.What we have learnedA flu vaccine can greatly lower the chance of getting the flu. True or False. The answer is "true".Each year’s flu virus is usually slightly different than the previous year’s virus. True or False. The answer is "true".Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very uncommon. True or False. The answer is "true".
Online Medical Reviewer: Foster, Sara, RN, MPH
Date Last Reviewed: 05/01/2020
© 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
