Flu Shot | Flu | Influenza | MedlinePlus

Flu Shot | Flu | Influenza | MedlinePlus

Fight the Flu

The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the most important step in preventing influenza infection. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a seasonal flu shot.

Find a flu shot clinic near you.

Flu Shot

Also called: Flu vaccine

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

• Immunizations - general overview

Related Health Topics

• Flu
• Immunization

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Flu Shot is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Other Languages

Find health information in languages other than English on Flu Shot

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• Fighting the Flu with a Universal Vaccine
• Study Offers Clues for Improving Seasonal Flu Vaccine

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Summary

Flu is a respiratory infection caused by a number of viruses. Most people with the flu get better on their own. But it can be serious. It can cause complications and sometimes even death. Getting the flu vaccine every year is the best way to lower your chance of getting the flu and spreading it to others.

The flu vaccine causes antibodies to develop in your body about two weeks after you get it. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.

There are different types of flu shots, including some especially for people 65 and older. Ask your health care provider which one is right for you.

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every season. People with egg allergies should check with their doctors before getting a vaccine. Other exceptions are people who have

• Had reactions to flu shots before
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome
• A fever

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

• Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (Inactivated or Recombinant): What You Need to Know(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
• Key Facts about Seasonal Flu Vaccine (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish
• Vaccine Finder (Department of Health and Human Services)

Specifics

• Flu Vaccine and People with Egg Allergies (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish
• Flu Vaccine Guidance for Patients with Immune Deficiency(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)Also in Spanish
• Flu Vaccine Safety Information (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Flublok Seasonal Influenza (Flu) Vaccination (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Fluzone High-Dose Seasonal Influenza Vaccine (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and Flu Vaccine (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish
• Misconceptions about Seasonal Flu and Flu Vaccines (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish
• Should People With Cancer Get a Flu Shot? (American Cancer Society)
• Thimerosal in Flu Vaccine (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish
• Vaccination: Who Should Do It, Who Should Not and Who Should Take Precautions(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish
• Vaccine Effectiveness - How Well Does the Seasonal Flu Vaccine Work?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• Flu Vaccine Skin Patch Tested  (National Institutes of Health)Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Flu Vaccine  (National Institutes of Health)

Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Gaps in the Clinical Management of Influenza: A Century Since... 
• Article: Autoimmune hepatitis following influenza virus vaccination: Two case reports. 
• Article: Prior vaccinations improve immunogenicity of inactivated influenza vaccine in young... 
• Flu Shot -- see more articles 

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 
• Vaccine Finder (Department of Health and Human Services)

Children

• Children, the Flu, and the Flu Vaccine (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Too Late for a Flu Shot (For Parents)? (Nemours Foundation)Also in Spanish

Women

• Flu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish