Thankfully, there’s a simple, free, or low-cost way to protect yourself from flu this fall and winter. Protect yourself and your loved ones from flu by getting a flu shot.
COVID-19 and Flu
This season it’s especially important to get a flu shot to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu and to make sure you don't miss out on what's important.
You might have questions about getting both a flu shot and a COVID-19 vaccine. We have the latest information to answer your questions.
Can you get a flu vaccine after getting a COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes, there is no required time interval in between the two vaccines. You can get a flu shot after getting a COVID-19 vaccine or you can get a COVID-19 vaccine and then get a flu shot. You can even get both vaccines at the same time.
What should I know about COVID-19 vaccines and flu vaccines?
CDC expects flu and COVID-19 to spread this fall and winter so it's important this year to get a flu shot and get fully vaccinated against COVID-19. You can get both vaccines at the same time. They are your best protection against these two illnesses.
Why should I get a flu shot if I’m not around as many people as normal due to COVID-19?
A flu shot is the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community from flu. It’s important to protect people around you, particularly people at higher risk of severe flu illness, like young children, older adults and people with underlying health conditions.
Does a flu vaccination increase your risk of getting COVID-19?
No, there is no evidence that getting a flu shot increases your risk of getting COVID-19.
What is the difference between flu and COVID-19?
Flu and COVID-19 are both infectious respiratory illnesses caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused by infection with an influenza virus.
Get Answers
Whether you've had a flu shot before or not, you might have questions about it, like how does it work? Why you should get it? Are there side effects? We have the answers to your questions.
Can a flu shot give you the flu?
Flu shots cannot give you the flu, although some people may have mild side effects. Some people report having a sore arm for a day or two or feeling a little tired or achy. Getting flu is much worse than the side effects a flu shot can cause.
How often should you get a flu shot?
CDC recommends getting a flu shot every year because protection from the shot declines over time. Flu viruses are also constantly changing, so flu shots are updated each year to provide the best protection.
Are there side effects from a flu shot?
Flu vaccines can cause side effects for some people. Most of the time these are mild and go away on their own in a short time. These can include: soreness or redness where the shot was given, a headache, muscle aches, and fatigue.
When should I get a flu shot?
Flu season often starts in October and gets worse through the winter. It’s good to get a flu vaccine before the end of October. It takes about 2 weeks for protection from vaccination to start. Getting a flu vaccine at any time during flu season is better than not getting one at all.
Who should get a flu shot?
CDC and other health experts recommend that everyone age 6 months and older get vaccinated against flu each year, with rare exception. This includes pregnant people, young children, older adults and people with certain chronic medical conditions. People who have concerns about allergies should discuss a flu vaccine with their health care professional.
Are flu shots effective?
Yes, CDC studies show that a flu shot usually reduces the risk of getting sick with flu by between 40% and 60%. If you get a flu shot and do get sick with flu, being vaccinated can help make your illness less severe.
Flu vaccines can prevent millions of people from getting flu. During the 2019-2020 flu season, flu vaccines prevented an estimated 8.7 million flu illnesses, 105,000 flu-related hospitalizations, and 6,300 flu-related deaths.
People who get flu are usually sick for about a week. Being protected against flu and staying healthy means you can be there for loved ones who depend on you.
People with certain chronic conditions are at higher risk of getting very sick from flu, including being hospitalized or even dying. Getting a flu vaccine can reduce the risk of giving flu to people with asthma, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and sickle cell anemia.
A flu vaccine helps protect the people around you who are more likely to get very sick from flu, like babies, young children, pregnant people, and older adults.
