Is It Really Necessary to Get a Flu Shot?

Yes, the flu can be dangerous. Learn why getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and your community.

Woman receiving flu shot

Updated on September 11, 2023.

We’ve all heard the advice to get the flu shot each fall. But is it really that important to do? The short answer: yes. Here’s what you need to know about the flu vaccine and why flu prevention is so essential.

The flu can be dangerous—even deadly

Last year, 300,000 to 650,000 people were hospitalized with the flu. The virus also claimed up to 58,000 lives.

And while flu-related deaths fell between 2020 and 2022 during the COVID pandemic when physical distancing, masking, and other measures were in place, flu typically causes tens of thousands of deaths each year. Between 2010 and 2020, 140,000 to 710,000 people were hospitalized with the flu annually, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Each year during that 10-year time span, 12,000 to 52,000 people died from the flu.

But many people still think of the flu as a bad cold. This is a risky misconception.

Flu symptoms may seem like just a cold but they’re usually more intense and linger longer. The stress and strain the flu puts on the body can also lead more serious complications, including pneumonia, inflammation of the heart, or stroke. People with underlying health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease and lung disease are among those at greatest risk. Older people and children are also at higher risk for flu-related complications.

Preventing the spread of the flu can not only keep you healthy, but also protect the vulnerable people around you. The best way to do that: Get a flu shot.

What is the flu vaccine?

The precise formulations of the vaccine change every year, but the basic foundations of the vaccine remain constant. The shots are either made with flu viruses that have been inactivated, which means they’re not infectious, or—in the case of recombinant flu vaccines—they’re made without viruses at all. This means that you can’t get the flu from any type of shot.

Depending on the year, both three-component or four-component vaccines may be available. Three-component vaccines defend against three types of flu virus: an influenza A (H1N1), another influenza A (H3N2), and an influenza B virus. The four-component vaccines protect against these same viruses, plus an additional B virus.

Like last year, all flu vaccines for the 2023-2024 season are quadrivalent vaccines, designed to protect against two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses. Certain vaccines are licensed for use in specific age groups, such as children and people older than 65, and some groups of people are not candidates for certain vaccines.

Your HCP will recommend what is safe and appropriate for you, depending on your age, the health of your immune system, allergies, and other factors. For adults over the age of 65, higher-dose vaccines may be recommended since they are potentially more effective than standard dose flu vaccines for people who have weakened immune systems.

How is the flu vaccine selected?

Because the flu virus is constantly changing, researchers reevaluate the expected strains each year. The exact components of the vaccine, therefore, may change from year to year. The World Health Organization (WHO) assembles a board of researchers from their own collaborating centers and other key laboratories—including the CDC and the Francis Crick Institute—to determine:

  • Which viruses are making people sick
  • How fast the viruses are spreading
  • The effectiveness of the previous vaccine

Once this information has been presented and reviewed—usually in February of each year—the FDA makes the official vaccine decision for the United States. After that, manufacturing companies begin creating the vaccine, a process that usually takes about six months. Ideally, people in the U.S. should get their annual flu shot by the end of October.

In seasons when the vaccine is well-matched to most circulating influenza viruses, getting a flu shot may decrease the risk of flu illness by 40 percent to 60 percent. The CDC estimates that from 2019 to 2020, the flu shot prevented about 7.5 million cases of the flu, 3.7 million visits to healthcare providers (HCPs), 105,000 hospitalizations, and 6,300 flu-related deaths.

Who needs the shot?

The CDC recommends that anyone 6-months or older get the flu vaccine. And for people who have an increased risk of flu-related complications—including those younger than 5, those older than 65, residents of nursing homes or other care facilities—it’s vital to adhere to flu vaccine recommendations.

Pregnant people should also get the flu shot during and after pregnancy. It can greatly reduce the risk of complications and protect infants from illness for several months after birth. Babies younger than 6-months old are too young to be vaccinated but can still receive flu antibodies in utero, or before birth.

People with certain underlying health issues should get a flu shot to avoid a worsening of their symptoms or flu-related complications. This includes those with:

  • Asthma or chronic lung disease
  • Neurological conditions or past stroke
  • Heart disease
  • Blood disorders
  • Endocrine disorders such as diabetes
  • Kidney or liver disorders
  • Metabolic disorders
  • Weakened immune system
  • Obese with a BMI of 40 or higher

​There are some exceptions to the recommendations, though. People younger than 6-months or those who have had Guillain-Barré Syndrome within the past six weeks should not receive the flu vaccine. (Guillain-Barré is a rare disorder in which your immune system attacks nerve cells causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Most people recover.)

The flu shot is also not recommended for those who’ve had severe allergic reactions to it in the past, or people who are allergic to certain vaccine components like gelatin or some antibiotics. Egg allergies may be an exception. Many flu vaccines are made using egg-based technologies, but most people with egg allergies can still receive the flu vaccine without needing to be observed for an allergic reaction. In fact, the CDC says those with egg allergy may receive “any vaccine (egg-based or non-egg-based) that is otherwise appropriate for their age and health status.” People who are concerned about a severe egg allergy should discuss their options with their HCP.

Timing the flu shot

People should get their flu shot before the virus starts to spread each year. In the U.S. flu usually beings to circulate in October and peaks between December and February. But people can still get the flu as late as May.

The CDC recommends getting vaccinated by the end of October. Because children ages 6 months to 8 years who are getting vaccinated for the first time need two doses four weeks apart, it’s a good idea to begin their vaccination process a bit earlier.

But better late, than never.  The flu shot can still help protect people from infection during the peak winter months.

And remember it takes two weeks to develop protective antibodies following immunization. During that time, consider taking precautions against the flu such as frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with people who are sick, especially if you are at risk for flu-related complications.

Article sources open article sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Disease Burden of Flu. Jan 7, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccine Effectiveness: How Well Do Flu Vaccines Work? Aug 25, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How Influenza (Flu) Vaccines Are Made. Aug 31, 2021.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seasonal Flu Vaccines. Aug 25, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Selecting Viruses for the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine. Mar 11, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Who Should and Who Should NOT Get a Flu Vaccine. Aug 25, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People at Higher Risk of Flu Complications. Sep 6, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu Vaccine and People with Egg Allergies. Aug 25, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu Season. Sep 20, 2022.
Mayo Clinic. Flu shot: Your best bet for avoiding influenza. Sep 10, 2021.

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