Why you shouldn’t skip the flu vaccine

Crisp, cool weather is approaching — and so is flu season. That means one thing: It’s time to get your annual flu shot.

The flu is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by influenza viruses. It spreads through the air from person to person when they cough, sneeze, or talk. Every year, millions of people in the U.S. get sick with the flu. Flu season starts in October, peaks in the winter months when many people are indoors more often, and lasts through May.

That’s why it’s key to prepare for flu season with a flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age 6 months and older get a flu shot. Flu shots are particularly important if you’re 65 or older, because there’s a higher risk of getting dangerously sick from the flu, which sometimes requires hospitalization.

Other high-risk groups include women who are pregnant, children under 2 years old, and people with asthma, diabetes, cancer, or COPD.

Here are four important reasons to get a flu shot soon.

1. The flu shot may keep you from getting sick

The flu shot lowers overall risk of getting sick by 40-60%, according to the CDC. The vaccine helps your immune system create antibodies, which are protective proteins that fight off viruses and other germs.

Even if you got a flu shot last year, you’ll need to get another one this year. That’s because your immunity has worn off since last year’s vaccine. Plus, flu strains change from year to year, which means the vaccine also changes every year. This year’s shot will protect you from the strains that experts think will circulate this winter.

“Based on the previous flu season, scientists who develop the vaccines can get a good sense of what may be coming the following year,” says Jay Lee, M.D. He’s the chief medical officer at Share Our Selves health center in Orange County, California. Using that information, they create a flu shot that tackles the strains we may see in the coming flu season.

2. The shot can reduce your symptoms

Like many vaccines, the flu shot isn’t 100% effective at preventing illness. But if you catch the flu, your symptoms may be milder and you may recover faster.

That’s important for people 65 and older, because catching the flu can lead to serious complications. As you age, your immune system weakens and your body is more likely to catch another illness, such as pneumonia, while fighting the flu.

Many older adults also have underlying conditions such as lung disease or heart disease, says the National Institute on Aging. That can make flu symptoms even more dangerous.

3. It can help protect your loved ones

A flu shot doesn’t just protect you from illness — it also protects other people in your household or workplace from getting sick.

The flu shot works best when most of us get it. After all, everyone who gets the flu catches it from someone else. That means the more people get the vaccine, the less chances for the virus to spread.

Vaccinating yourself also helps those who can’t get vaccines. Maybe you have a newborn grandchild, for example. (Kids under 6 months are too young to get the shot.) Also, the flu shot is not always recommended for people with weak immune systems or severe allergies. Those individuals are at the greatest risk of severe flu that can lead to hospitalization or even death.

When you reduce your chances of getting the flu, you’re less likely to pass it on. “Even if you don’t think about doing it for yourself, think about doing it for those you love,” Dr. Lee says.

4. There’s a flu shot just for people ages 65 and older

The CDC recommends that people age 65 and older get a higher-dose flu shot that offers extra protection. As of the 2022–2023 flu season, there are several high-dose options, so ask your doctor which one is right for you.

If you’re due for an annual wellness visit, Dr. Lee suggests getting your flu shot at that appointment. You can also get a flu shot at a pharmacy or health clinic. Medicare plans cover one flu shot every year.

Can’t get the flu shot by the end of October? Don’t worry. You can get vaccinated after that and still be protected for flu season, which can last from September through May.

Additional sources:
Vaccine recommendations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Effectiveness: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
When to get it: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Complications in older adults: National Institute on Aging

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