FLU SHOTS FLU SHOTS
CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL

Who should get vaccinated this season?

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every season. Vaccination to prevent influenza is particularly important for people who are at high risk of serious complications from influenza. See People at High Risk of Developing Flu-Related Complications for a full list of age and health factors that confer increased risk.

Flu vaccination has important benefits. It can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations.

Different flu vaccines are approved for use in different groups of people. Factors that can determine a person’s suitability for vaccination, or vaccination with a particular vaccine, include a person’s age, health (current and past) and any relevant allergies.

Flu shots are approved for use in pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions. There are flu shots that also are approved for use in people as young as 6 months of age and up.

The nasal spray vaccine is approved for use in people 2 years through 49 years of age.

More information is available at Who Should Get Vaccinated Against Influenza.

Who Should Not Receive a Flu Shot: People who cannot get a flu shot Children younger than 6 months old People with severe, life-threatening allergies to flu vaccine or any of its ingredients
Note: There are certain flu shots that have different age indications. For example people younger than 65 years of age should not get the high-dose flu shot and people who are younger than 18 years old or older than 64 years old should not get the intradermal flu shot. People who should talk to their doctor before getting the flu shot People who have an allergy to eggs or other vaccine ingredients People who have ever had Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) People who are feeling ill Who Should Not Receive Nasal Spray Vaccine: People who cannot get a nasal spray vaccine Children younger than 2 years old Adults 50 years and older People who have a history of severe allergic reactions to any component of the vaccine or to a previous dose of any influenza vaccine People who are allergic to eggs Children age 2-17 receiving aspirin therapy Pregnant women People with weakened immune systems Children age 2-4 who have asthma or history of wheezing in past 12 months People who have taken flu antivirals drugs in the previous 48 hours People who care for severely immunocompromised persons who require a protective environment (or otherwise avoid contact with those persons for 7 days after getting the nasal spray vaccine). People who should talk to their doctor before getting the nasal spray vaccine People with Asthma People with a chronic condition People who have ever had Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) People who are feeling ill People who have gotten other vaccines in the past 4 weeks When should I get vaccinated?

CDC recommends that people get vaccinated against flu soon after vaccine becomes available, if possible by October. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu.