Influenza

Who should be vaccinated?

• It is recommended that individuals aged 6 months and older be vaccinated against the flu.

• Adults 65 years old or older should ask their physician about a high-dose vaccine.

• Flu vaccines can be administered and are safe at any time during pregnancy.

• People who have had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of flu vaccine, have any severe, life-threatening allergies or have ever had Guillain-Barre Syndrome should talk with their healthcare provider.

• Department of Health and Human Services Goal: 70% vaccinated against flu.2

Flu Facts

• The flu vaccine will not give you the flu.

• The flu vaccine will help protect you from complications of the flu and reduce the burden on U.S. health system.

• The flu vaccine decreases the severity of flu symptoms and reduces hospitalizations even though it does not protect you from flu all the time and the effectiveness of the vaccine varies from year to year.

• The flu vaccine will not protect you from COVID-19 or another related variant.

• Serious flu vaccine side effects are rare; the most common side effects are soreness at the site of the injection and /or headache.

• People that have had COVID-19 should get the flu vaccine once recovered.

• It is important to get your flu vaccine to prevent getting COVID-19 with the flu, to protect yourself from severe illness, and to decrease the stress on hospital systems. 

Stay Safe

• Masking may be needed based on employer/institutions policies or state and local ordinances.

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water. If soap and water is not available, use hand sanitizer.

• Maintain a distance from others to reduce the risk of spreading or getting a virus.