Flu Facts: Why You Should Get the Flu Shot

With everything going on in your world, it can be easy to overlook the basics when it comes to your health, and the well-being of those around you. So here’s a friendly reminder: Don’t forget your flu shot.

While vaccines may have been in the news lately, there is general agreement on the benefits of the flu vaccine. Indeed, the recommendation of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not changed: Everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine every season, with rare exceptions.

There are two basic reasons to get vaccinated for the flu, according to Bernard Camins, MD, MSc, Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

• The vaccine may not completely prevent you from getting the flu, but the infection, if you do get the flu, will be less severe and can prevent you from being hospitalized. This is especially important for those at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications, including those 65 and older; those with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease; those who are pregnant; and children younger than five. Getting vaccinated also means you are less likely to expose others to the virus, notably those who may be more at risk for complications.
• You need to get the vaccine every year. Immunity can wane after a few months. Plus, the strains of the influenza virus can change from year to year, so previous vaccinations are not as effective against the current circulating strain.

If you are looking for more reasons to get the flu shot, consider these basic flu facts:

• It takes about two weeks for vaccines to be effective, and flu season usually peaks between December and January.
• The CDC recommends that those over age 65 get a version of the vaccine that elicits a more robust immune response. (You can talk with your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions about whether this is for you.) And you can get the flu vaccine at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine.
• Flu symptoms tend to come on suddenly. Most people who get the flu will recover in a few days, according to the CDC.
• Some may dismiss the seasonal flu as little different from the common cold. In fact, it is much more severe with 560,000 hospitalizations and 38,000 deaths attributed to the flu in the United States last season. Symptoms of flu include sudden onset of fever or chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue. If you are feeling these symptoms from the flu, stay home.  If they worsen or if you have difficulty breathing, call your health care provider.
• Vaccination will play a key role in reducing influenza hospitalizations this season. Influenza vaccines prevented an estimated 240,000 hospitalizations during the 2024-2025 season, primarily in adults aged 65 years and older, according to the CDC. The flu vaccine also prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor’s visits each year., and helps people avoid missing work and school.