Flu shot: Your best bet for avoiding influenza
Can the vaccine give me the flu?
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When is the flu vaccine available?
Why do I need to get vaccinated every year?
Who should get the flu vaccine?
What are my flu vaccine delivery options?
Can the vaccine give me the flu or other respiratory diseases?
What kind of protection does the flu vaccine offer?
Can I lower my risk of the flu without getting a flu shot?
What are my flu vaccine delivery options?
The flu vaccine will be available as an injection or as a nasal spray.
The nasal spray vaccine is approved for people between 2 and 49 years old.
The nasal flu vaccine isn't recommended for some people, including:
- Children under 2
- Adults 50 and older
- Pregnant women
- Children between 2 and 17 years old who are taking aspirin or a salicylate-containing medication
- People with weakened immune systems
- Kids 2 to 4 years old who have had asthma or wheezing in the past 12 months
There are other groups advised to be cautious about the use of a nasal spray flu vaccine, such as people with certain chronic medical conditions. Check with your doctor to see if you need to be cautious about getting a nasal spray flu vaccine.
The flu vaccine can also be delivered by an injection that's usually given in a muscle in the arm. If you're an adult under 65, you may also choose an in-the-skin (intradermal) vaccine, or you may prefer to have your vaccine delivered using a jet injector device, which uses a high-pressure, narrow stream of fluid to penetrate the skin instead of a needle.
