The single most effective thing you can do to avoid the flu is to get vaccinated every year.
Here are some facts everyone should know about the flu vaccine.
The flu is a serious respiratory illness that is easily spread from person to person . Anyone can get the flu, but certain people are at increased risk of developing severe complications that can lead to hospitalization or even death.
Flu vaccines given with a needle do contain an inactivated (killed) virus or are made with a single protein from the virus to stimulate an immune response, but they cannot give you the flu. The nasal spray vaccine works a bit different as it contains live viruses, but they are weakened and only multiply within the nose due to temperature. This method also protects against the flu but cannot give you the flu.
Everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated each year as the circulating strains of the virus change each year. In addition, your body’s immune protection achieved through the flu vaccine declines over time and studies repeatedly show that a yearly vaccination best protects against the flu.
While receiving a flu vaccine doesn't guarantee you won't get the flu, it significantly reduces your risk of getting sick. The flu vaccine also decreases the severity of your symptoms if you do get the flu, helping reduce how sick you feel and for how long. By lowering your risk of illness, getting vaccinated also helps protects family members, friends and others in the community who are more vulnerable to severe illness.
Page last updated: November 12, 2026
