The flu vaccine is a crucial annual public health measure designed to protect individuals against seasonal influenza viruses. It helps reduce the risk of severe...
The CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone six months of age and older, especially those at high risk for complications, such as young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic health conditions.
It's best to get vaccinated before flu activity begins to spread widely, ideally by the end of October. However, vaccination can still provide protection later in the flu season.
No, the flu vaccine cannot give you the flu. The injectable vaccine contains inactivated viruses, and the nasal spray vaccine contains live attenuated viruses that are weakened and cannot cause illness.
Flu vaccine effectiveness varies each year depending on how well the vaccine matches circulating strains. It generally reduces the risk of flu illness by 40-60% among the overall population when the vaccine viruses are well-matched.