Vaccination & Vaccine Safety

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine. Seasonal flu vaccines have a very good safety track record.

• Get your flu shot or spray as soon as the vaccine is available in your area.
• The flu vaccine is available by shot or nasal spray.
• Mild reactions such as soreness, headaches, and fever are common side effects of the flu vaccine.
• If you experience a severe reaction such as difficulty breathing, hives, or facial swelling, seek medical attention immediately.

What does this year’s vaccine protect me from?

The 2011-2012 flu vaccine protects against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus.

Do I need to get the vaccine?

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine. It is especially important to get the vaccine if you, someone you live with, or someone you care for is at high risk of complications from the flu.

Who and Why to Get Vaccinated

Daniel Jernigan (CDC) discusses the 2011-2012 Influenza Season

When should I get the vaccine?

Get the vaccine as soon as it is available in your area. Flu season usually peaks in January or February, but it can occur as late as May. Early immunization is the most effective, but it is not too late to get the vaccine in December, January, or beyond.

When is the Right Time to Get a Flu Shot?

Rear Admiral Anne Schuchat, M.D., Director, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Where can I get the vaccine?

Use the Flu Vaccine Finder below to find a flu vaccine location near you this flu season.

How should I get the vaccine?

There are two types of vaccines, the flu shot and the nasal spray.

The flu shot is:

• Made with inactivated (killed) flu virus
• Given by needle
• Approved for use in healthy people and those with chronic health conditions
• Approved for use in people older than 6 months
• Available in 3 types:
  • Regular, for people 6 months and older
  • High-dose, for people 65 and older
  • Intradermal (given with a small needle and injected in your skin), for people 18 to 64

The nasal spray is:

• Made with weakened live flu virus
• Given with a mist sprayed in your nose
• Approved for healthy people 2 to 49
• Not approved for pregnant women

How to Get Your Flu Vaccine

Dr. William Schaffner (NFID) discusses way to get your flu vaccine.

Is the vaccine safe?

Seasonal flu vaccines have a very good safety track record. Although there are possible side-effects to vaccination, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration closely monitor the safety of seasonal flu vaccines.

Are there side effects?  

Possible mild side effects of the flu shot include:

• Soreness, redness, and swelling at the injection site
• Fainting, mainly in adolescents
• Headaches
• Fever
• Nausea

Possible mild side effects of the nasal spray include:

• Runny nose
• Wheezing
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Muscle aches
• Fever

Mild side effects usually begin soon after you get the shot and last one to two days.

Possible serious side effects of vaccination include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Hoarseness
• Swelling around the eyes or lips
• Hives
• Paleness
• Weakness
• Racing heart
• Dizziness
• Behavior changes
• High fever

Serious side effects usually begin within a few minutes to a few hours after receiving the shot. If you experience any of these reactions, seek medical attention immediately.

How can I report a serious reaction to the vaccine?

Contact your health care provider immediately if you have a serious reaction to the flu vaccine. Your health care provider should report your reaction to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). You can also file a report yourself. All serious reactions should be reported, even if you aren’t sure it was caused by the flu vaccine. VAERS uses this data to help identify serious reactions that may need further investigation.

If your reaction results in a serious injury, you may qualify for compensation from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).  VICP provides compensation for vaccine-related injury or death claims for covered vaccines given on or after October 1, 1988.

Can I get the flu from the vaccine?

No, you cannot get the flu from the flu shot or the nasal spray. The flu shot contains inactivated (killed) flu viruses that cannot cause illness. The nasal spray contains weakened live viruses. The weakened viruses only cause infection in the cooler temperatures found in the nose. The viruses cannot infect the lungs or other areas in the body where warmer temperatures exist.

Will I need to pay for the vaccine?

Most health insurance plans cover the cost of vaccines, but you should check with your insurance company before visiting your health care provider.

If you do not have insurance or if it does not cover vaccines, help is available.

Is there anyone who should not get the vaccine?

Talk to your health care provider about vaccination if you have:

• A severe allergy to chicken eggs
• A history of severe reaction to a flu vaccination
• A moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (you should wait until you are better to get the vaccine)
• A history of Guillain–Barré Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS)

Related Links

Community Immunity (“Herd Immunity”)

Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine

Misconceptions about Seasonal Influenza and Influenza Vaccines

Vaccine Effectiveness – How Well Does the Flu Vaccine Work?