Who is the flu vaccine for

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get an influenza flu vaccine every season, with rare exceptions. For the flu season, three main types of influenza vaccines will be available. Two kinds—the inactivated influenza vaccines IIV4s and the recombinant influenza vaccine RIV4 —are injectable flu shots.

The third type, the live attenuated influenza vaccine LAIV4 , is given by nasal spray. Different influenza vaccines are approved for different age groups. Some people for example, pregnant people and people with some chronic health conditions should not get some types of influenza vaccines, and some people should not receive influenza vaccines at all though this is uncommon.

Everyone who is vaccinated should receive a vaccine that is appropriate for their age and health status. There is no preference for any one vaccine over another. This page includes information on who should and who should not get an influenza vaccine, and who should talk to a health care professional before vaccination. Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions regarding which influenza vaccines are best for you and your family.

All persons aged 6 months of age and older are recommended for annual flu vaccination, with rare exception. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications. If you have one of the following conditions, talk with your health care provider.

A study showed that the vaccine significantly reduces a child's risk of dying of the flu. Check with your child's doctor. Chronic medical conditions also can increase your risk of influenza complications. Examples include:. Anyone with a chronic medical condition should get the flu vaccine. Also, people living in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities should get the flu vaccine.

There are other groups advised to be cautious about the use of a nasal spray flu vaccine, such as people with certain chronic medical conditions. Check with your doctor to see if you need to be cautious about getting a nasal spray flu vaccine. The flu vaccine can also be delivered by an injection that's usually given in a muscle in the arm. If you're an adult under 65, you may also choose an in-the-skin intradermal vaccine, or you may prefer to have your vaccine delivered using a jet injector device, which uses a high-pressure, narrow stream of fluid to penetrate the skin instead of a needle.

The flu vaccine can't give you the flu. But you might develop flu-like symptoms — despite getting a flu vaccine — for a variety of reasons, including:. How well the flu vaccine works to protect you from the flu can vary. The flu vaccine is generally more effective among people under 65 years old. Some older people and people with certain medical conditions may develop less immunity after receiving a flu shot. The vaccine may sometimes be less effective.

Even when the vaccine doesn't completely prevent the flu, it may lessen the severity of your illness, and reduce the risk of serious complications and serious illness requiring hospitalization. However, it's especially important to get the flu vaccine this season because the flu and coronavirus disease COVID cause similar symptoms.

Preventing the flu and reducing the severity of flu illness and hospitalizations could also decrease the number of people needing to stay in the hospital. The flu vaccine is your best defense against the flu, but there are additional steps you can take to help protect yourself from the flu and other viruses, including COVID These steps include the following:. If you become sick with the flu, you can also help prevent the spread of the flu by staying home and away from others. Continue staying home until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours.

Your local health department and the CDC may suggest other precautions to reduce your risk of COVID or the flu if you haven't been fully vaccinated. For example, you may need to practice social distancing physical distancing and stay at least 6 feet 2 meters from others outside your household.

You may also need to wear a cloth face mask when around people outside your household when indoors and when outdoors in crowded areas. If you're fully vaccinated and are in an area with a high number of new COVID cases in the last week, the CDC also recommends wearing a mask indoors in public and outdoors in crowded areas or when you're in close contact with unvaccinated people. Getting your flu vaccine can reduce your risk of the flu and its complications, and following these precautions can help protect you from the flu or other respiratory illnesses.

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You may opt-out of e-mail communications at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Infographic - Vaccination saves lives. Influenza vaccination coverage and effectiveness. Infographic - Check your facts about influenza and what WHO says Flu Awareness Campaign. WHO guidance and current recommendations. Seasonal vaccination policies and coverage in the European Region. Types of seasonal influenza vaccine.