With a chill in the air, kids back at school and football underway, autumn has arrived. It’s also the time of year to plan for your annual flu shot.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu shot for individuals ages 6 months and older, with few exceptions. Getting vaccinated helps ensure you, your loved ones and your community stay protected during the upcoming flu season.
“The time is now to start planning for your flu shot,” says Dr. Dirk Steinert, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Ambulatory Care for ThedaCare. “Cases of respiratory flu can begin to show up as soon as October. Get vaccinated to give yourself and your family the best odds of avoiding flu this season.”
Flu FAQs
Some frequently asked questions remain year after year, while other new ones continue to arise. Here, Dr. Steinert answers top queries.
1. I’ve been hearing more about nasal spray flu vaccines. What are they, and do they work?
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the nasal spray vaccine FluMist for use in individuals between the ages of 2 and 49 years old. Pregnant people and those with certain medical conditions should not get the nasal spray flu vaccine, the CDC advises.
Health experts say FluMist offers an effective alternative option for inoculating against flu, especially for kids and adults with a fear of needles that may hold them back from otherwise getting vaccinated.
ThedaCare has limited quantities of FluMist available. Inquire with your ThedaCare clinic or pharmacy about availability. In addition to having a health caregiver administer FluMist, eligible groups can choose to self-administer as of this fall. Individuals interested in the self-administration option for themselves or their child should check their insurance coverage and follow the guidelines for administering.
2. Do older adults need a different type of flu shot?
The CDC recommends a high-dose flu vaccine for adults ages 65 and older. If you’re 65 or older, your vaccine provider will talk with you about which type of flu vaccine you should receive.
3. Isn’t the flu just a bad cold? Why bother vaccinating?
Each year, the U.S. alone sees millions of cases of flu. For many people, a case of the flu means more than simply missing work or school. Some people can develop serious complications. These can include bacterial pneumonia, sinus infections or worsening of chronic conditions. The flu and its complications can lead to hospitalization and even death.
The 2024-25 flu season led to up to 1.3 million hospitalizations and as many as 130,000 deaths, according to CDC estimates.
The CDC reports that flu vaccine prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor’s visits each year. When you get vaccinated, you’re not just protecting yourself, but also those around you. That includes people who are most at risk of becoming severely ill and those who cannot receive the vaccine, such as infants.
4. Do young, healthy people and kids really need the vaccine?
The evidence in favor of flu shots is strong.
“During 2019-2020, the last flu season prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, flu vaccination prevented an estimated 7 million influenza illnesses, 3 million influenza-associated medical visits, 100,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations and 7,000 influenza-associated deaths in the United States,” the CDC states.
Don’t underestimate the risk to kids. Tragically, the 2024-2025 flu season resulted in 216 pediatric deaths in the U.S., making it the deadliest non-pandemic flu season on record.
Children ages 6 months and older should get vaccinated. Kids between the ages of 6 months and 8 years receiving the flu vaccine for the first time will need two injections at smaller doses. In subsequent years, they will need only one dose.
5. But you can still get the flu even if you get vaccinated?
It’s possible to get the flu after you’ve been vaccinated for a few reasons, according to the CDC:
- You may be exposed to the flu before getting vaccinated or during the time your body is still gaining protection from the vaccine. Antibodies that provide protection against the flu develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination.
- You might be exposed to an influenza virus not included in the current seasonal flu vaccine. The annual flu vaccine is designed to protect against the three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common. However, many types of influenza viruses circulate each year.
- It’s possible to contract a different type of virus that acts similar to flu.
- Unfortunately, you can still contract flu even if you’ve been vaccinated. However, flu vaccination has been shown in studies to reduce the severity and duration of illness in those who do get sick.
6. Will the flu shot make me sick?
Viruses in a flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get flu from a flu shot, the CDC states. Minor, short-lived vaccination side effects can include soreness, redness, and/or swelling where the shot was given; headache; fever; muscle aches; nausea; and fatigue.
7. OK, I’m in. When should I get my flu shot?
Flu shots are available now for the upcoming flu season. For optimal protection, consider getting vaccinated in mid-September, and no later than the end of October. Flu typically peaks between the months of December and February.
If it’s already the flu season, which lasts through spring, you can still get vaccinated. It’s important to your health and others’ that you get vaccinated.
