1. There are several types of flu vaccine.
A wide variety of flu vaccines are available for the 2024–2025 flu season, all of which fall into one of the following categories:
- Standard dose: An egg-based vaccine for ages 6 months and up
- Cell based: An egg-free vaccine for ages 6 months and up
- Recombinant: An egg-free vaccine for ages 18 and up
- Antigen high dose: An egg-based option for ages 65 and up that’s designed to stimulate a stronger immune response
- Adjuvanted: Another egg-based option available for ages 65 and up that’s designed to stimulate a stronger immune response
- Live attenuated influenza nasal mist: Available for ages 2 to 49; not safe for people who are pregnant or have a compromised immune system, because it’s made from a live virus
Work with your doctor to help determine the best vaccine for you.
2. Even healthy people should get a flu shot.
The flu is more of a risk for some people, including children under age 2, people 65 and older, and people who have certain health conditions or are immunocompromised. But anyone can have complications from the flu — or even die from it. No matter how young and healthy you are, the best way to prevent a serious outcome from the flu is to get vaccinated. And you won’t be protecting only yourself: By being vaccinated, you’ll help protect people who can’t safely get a flu shot.
3. Vaccination is not a guarantee you won’t get sick. But if you do, it still has benefits.
“Even if the flu vaccine isn’t perfectly matched with the dominant strain that’s circulating, that’s no reason to not get vaccinated,” says Dr. Schaffner.
Why? According to the CDC, even if you come down with the flu after you get a flu shot, it’s likely your symptoms won’t be as severe as if you weren’t vaccinated.
4. You won’t be protected from the flu immediately after you get vaccinated.
It takes two weeks for your body to build immunity against the influenza virus. That means it’s possible to come down with the flu during the window of time between the shot and when immunity fully takes hold. That’s why experts recommend getting vaccinated in fall, before the virus starts to circulate in earnest. By the time it does, if you’re vaccinated, your immune system will be primed to protect you.
5. You need a flu shot every year.
This is for two reasons, according to Andrew Pekosz, PhD, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.
“The first is, the flu vaccine is updated every year, based on changes in the viruses that are circulating. So, to get the maximum protection against what we think will be the dominant viruses, you need to get your vaccine every year,” he explains. “The second is, the flu vaccine response does wane over time. So you really need an extra dose every year to give you maximum protection from severe infection.”
Different vaccines are recommended for various age groups, pregnant people, and people who are immunocompromised or have certain health conditions.
Work with your doctor to determine which vaccine is the right match for you and how to access it. You should also discuss which vaccine to get if the recommended version is unavailable to you.
At the end of the day, the goal is to get as many people vaccinated as possible. “We want you to protect yourself, your family, and your community,” says Schaffner. “Please get vaccinated.”