Basics
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Summary
Flu is a respiratory infection caused by a number of viruses. Most people with the flu get better on their own. But it can be serious. It can cause complications and sometimes even death. Getting the flu vaccine every year is the best way to lower your chance of getting the flu and spreading it to others.
The flu vaccine causes antibodies to develop in your body about two weeks after you get it. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.
There are different types of flu shots, including some especially for people 65 and older. Ask your health care provider which one is right for you.
Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every season. People with egg allergies should check with their doctors before getting a vaccine. Other exceptions are people who have:
- Had reactions to flu shots before
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- A fever
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Related Issues
- FDA's Critical Role in Ensuring Supply of Influenza Vaccine (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
- Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) (Department of Health and Human Services) Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Flu Vaccine and People with Egg Allergies (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Flu Vaccine Guidance for Patients with Immune Deficiency (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) Also in Spanish
- Flu Vaccine Safety Information (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Flublok Seasonal Influenza (Flu) Vaccination (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Fluzone High-Dose Seasonal Influenza Vaccine (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and Flu Vaccine (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- It's a Good Time to Get Your Flu Vaccine (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
- Misconceptions about Seasonal Flu and Flu Vaccines (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Thimerosal in Flu Vaccine (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Vaccinations and Flu Shots for People with Cancer (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
- Vaccine Effectiveness: How Well Do the Flu Vaccines Work? (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Who Should and Who Should NOT Get a Flu Vaccine (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Flu Vaccine
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Neoadjuvant intratumoral influenza vaccine treatment in patients with proficient mismatch repair...
- Article: Comparing the Use of a Mobile App and a Web-Based Notification...
- Article: Superior immunogenicity of high-dose quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine versus Standard-Dose vaccine...
- Flu Shot -- see more articles
Find an Expert
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
- Find Flu Vaccines (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
-
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Children
- Can Kids Get a COVID-19 Vaccine Along with the Flu Vaccine? (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Flu Vaccines Are Important for Children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Too Late for a Flu Shot (For Parents)? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Women
- Flu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish