Flu Season

Vaccination is the surest way to protect against getting the flu. Get your flu shot every year to protect yourself and help keep the flu from spreading to others.

Everyone age 6 months and older who wants to reduce the risk of getting sick should get a flu shot.

Those more at risk of illness and complications from the flu include:

People age 65 and older

• People with health problems such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease and other chronic illnesses or conditions
• Pregnant women
• Caregivers of infants or family members with health problems

Flu viruses can change over time, so every year the flu shot vaccine is updated to protect against the flu viruses most likely to spread that year.

The viruses may change after the flu shot is made. Even if this happens, you will still get some protection from the flu shot.
 

Veterans enrolled in VA health care can get a flu shot at their nearest VA health care facility. If you are not enrolled in VA health care, Click to Enroll.

Flu shots are also available through community providers, including CVS Pharmacies.  To find the participating location closest to you, go to Find Locations or call 1-877-881-7618 to find "in-network" retail pharmacies in your area.

VA doesn't vaccinate family members of Veterans or VA staff.

Get a flu shot in the fall as soon as it's available, so you are protected the entire flu season. You will need to get a new flu shot every year to protect yourself from the flu viruses circulating that season.

Contact your nearest VA health care facility to check vaccine availability.

After you get a flu shot, it takes about two weeks for your body to make enough antibodies to protect you against flu.

Antibodies are proteins produced by your immune system that identify and help remove foreign targets such as viruses and bacteria. The flu shot helps your body build these antibodies to fight flu viruses and prevent you from getting sick.

This is a common misconception. You cannot get the flu from a flu shot because only inactive (dead) flu virus is used to make the flu shot vaccine.

If you get the flu soon after getting a flu shot this could mean:

You were exposed to the flu virus before the flu shot took effect.

• You have a weak immune system or other illness that causes your body to take longer to make antibodies and build immunity.
• Your body fails to make antibodies after getting a flu shot.
• The flu shot vaccine does not match all the flu viruses that are currently spreading.

Yes, the flu shot is both safe and effective. Most people have no serious side effects or allergic reaction to it.

Some people may have redness or swelling on their arm where the shot was given. A very small number of people may get minor body aches, a headache, or a low fever that lasts a day or two.

The Health and Medicine Division (formally known as the Institute of Medicine) of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reviewed more than 1,000 research articles and concluded that few health problems are associated with vaccines. Learn more about these findings.

Take these simple precautions:

• Avoid people who are sick.
• Clean hands often.
• Keep hands away from your face.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Stay home when you are sick.