The Importance of Flu Vaccination: Protecting Against Influenza and Its Complications

The flu, caused by a virus, can cause serious complications for certain groups of people, including the elderly, young children, and those with weakened immune systems. Getting a flu vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the flu and its complications. The flu vaccine can lower the risk of getting the flu, having serious illness from the flu, and needing to stay in the hospital or dying of the flu. This year's seasonal flu vaccines provide protection against three influenza viruses expected to be most common during the flu season.

Key Takeaways:

• The flu vaccine is available in the U.S. around September, and it takes about six months for pharmaceutical makers to produce the vaccine.
• The flu virus can change quickly, so a new flu vaccine is released every year to keep up with the changing viruses.
• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends yearly seasonal influenza vaccinations for everyone age 6 months or older who doesn't have a medical reason to avoid the vaccine.
• People at high risk of flu complications include adults older than 65, people in nursing homes or long-term care, young children, people who plan to be pregnant, are pregnant or recently gave birth, and others with weakened immune systems or certain medical conditions.
• Children between 6 months and 8 years may need two doses of the flu vaccine, given at least four weeks apart, the first time they get a flu vaccine.
• The flu vaccine is available as a shot, a jet injection, or a nasal spray, and there are different vaccines available for people with certain medical conditions or egg allergies.
• The nasal spray vaccine is not recommended for people with weakened immune systems, pregnant people, or those with certain medical conditions.
• The flu vaccine cannot give you the flu and does not increase the risk of other respiratory infections, but it may cause side effects such as muscle aches and a fever.
• The flu vaccine may not be 100% effective in preventing the flu, but it can reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalization.

Statistics:

• The flu vaccine can lower the risk of getting the flu by up to 90% (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
• The flu vaccine can lower the risk of having serious illness from the flu by up to 70% (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
• The flu vaccine can lower the risk of needing to stay in the hospital or dying of the flu by up to 50% (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
• Between 2009 and 2019, the flu vaccine effectiveness ranged from 22% to 56% (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
• In the 2019-2020 flu season, the flu vaccine was estimated to have prevented 7.5 million cases of flu (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

Sources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022). Influenza (Flu).
• World Health Organization (2022). Influenza (Seasonal).
• American Academy of Pediatrics (2022). Influenza (Flu) Vaccination.