*In the flu symptom medicine category. According to the 2011 Pharmacy Times Survey of Pharmacists' OTC Recommendations. Reference: Pharmacy Times; June 2011 (Suppl).
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What is the Flu? How Do I Prevent the Flu? Do I Have the Flu? Treatment FAQ Flu Resources

How Do I Prevent the Flu?

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each year (as long as you are eligible and the vaccine is recommended by your health care professional). Certain people should get vaccinated each year either because they are high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for high risk persons. Vaccination helps to reduce the chances of getting the flu.1

Who should get the flu vaccine?

Vaccination against the flu helps prevent illness and save lives. Flu vaccination has a proven safety record and is the most effective measure available to help prevent the flu. Prior years' vaccinations are unlikely to protect a person against influenza this year. One reason for this is that a person's immunity after flu vaccination declines over the year following the vaccination. A second reason is because flu viruses change continually, each year's flu vaccine is formulated to include currently circulating flu virus strains.2

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend influenza vaccination for the following groups:2

  • Persons aged 50 years and older
  • Children aged 6 months to 5 years of age†
  • All women who will be pregnant during influenza season
  • Persons† with underlying chronic medical conditions
  • Healthcare workers involved in direct patient care

When should I get the flu vaccine?

Even though it's better to get vaccinated in October or November, influenza vaccinations still offer benefits when given later in the season (December or later).1

What is the flu vaccine?

There are two kinds of flu vaccine available in the United States:1

  • The "flu shot" — an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
  • The nasal-spray flu vaccine — a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine"). LAIV is approved for use in healthy people 5 years to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.

About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by other non-influenza viruses.1

What types of good health habits can help prevent the flu?

Good health habits are also an important way to help prevent the flu.3

  • Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
  • Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
  • Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
  • Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

How effective is the flu shot?

With the flu shot, when the "match" between vaccine and circulating strains is close, the vaccine prevents influenza in about 70%-90% of healthy persons younger than age 65 years. Among elderly persons living outside chronic-care facilities (such as nursing homes) and those persons with long-term (chronic) medical conditions, the flu shot is 30%-70% effective in preventing hospitalization for pneumonia and influenza. Among elderly nursing home residents, the flu shot is most effective in preventing severe illness, secondary complications, and deaths related to the flu. In this population, the shot can be 50%-60% effective in preventing hospitalization or pneumonia and 80% effective in preventing death from the flu.4

Is the flu vaccine effective against all types of flu and cold viruses?

The flu vaccine is your best protection against flu viruses. However, the vaccine does not provide protection against non-flu viruses that can cause colds and other respiratory illnesses. It can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between a cold and the flu based on symptoms alone. The flu vaccine won't protect you from cold or flu viruses that are already in your body when you get a flu vaccine. The flu vaccine takes about two weeks to provide protection from the flu, and it's your best protection to prevent the most common types of flu this season.5

Why do I need to get a flu vaccine every year?

Flu viruses change from year to year, which means two things. First, you can get the flu more than once during your lifetime. The immunity (natural protection that develops against a disease after a person has had that disease) that is built up from having the flu caused by one flu virus strain doesn't always provide protection against newer strains of the flu. Second, a vaccine from the previous year may not protect against the newer viruses. That is why the flu vaccine is updated to include current viruses every year. Another reason to get the flu vaccine every year is that after vaccination, protection from the flu strains in the vaccine decreases over the year. Because of these reasons, a new flu vaccine is needed each year.5

Are there side effects from the flu vaccine?

Most people who receive the influenza vaccine do not develop serious problems; however, all vaccines have side effects. The most common side effects of influenza vaccine include local reactions and mild general symptoms such as:4

  • Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
  • Fever (low grade)
  • Aches

Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. They include:1

  • People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
  • People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
  • People who have developed Guillain-Barré (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
  • Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group).
  • People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.

What should I do if I have a serious reaction to influenza vaccine?

If you have a serious reaction to influenza vaccine:4

  • Call a doctor, or get to a doctor right away.
  • Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when you got the flu shot.
  • Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form, or call VAERS at 1-800-822-7967.

MYTH: I got vaccinated last year, so I don't need to get vaccinated this year.

FACT: Influenza viruses change from year to year, so even if you were immune to influenza strains circulating in the past, you may not be protected from the new strains that could emerge this season.6

MYTH: You can get the flu from the injected vaccine.

FACT: Injectable influenza virus vaccines are made from influenza viruses that have been inactivated (killed) - an inactivated virus cannot give you the flu.4

Do you have the flu?

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