Flu Vaccine FAQs

Egg allergic patients can safely be given influenza vaccine at the pediatrician’s office. The only exception would be if there was a reaction to the flu vaccine in the past. Please see the CDC recommendations.

Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infections can affect people differently, but millions of people get the flu every year. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others. During flu season – typically October through May, flu viruses circulate at higher levels in the United States. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to reduce your risk of getting sick with seasonal flu and spreading it to others. When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread through that community.

Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season.

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every season.

A flu vaccine is needed every season for two reasons. First, the body’s immune response from vaccination declines over time, so an annual vaccine is needed for optimal protection. Second, because flu viruses are constantly changing, the formulation of the flu vaccine is reviewed each year and sometimes updated to keep up with changing flu viruses. For the best protection, everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated annually.

While it’s not possible to say with certainty what will happen in the fall and winter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes it’s likely that flu viruses and the virus that cause other respiratory illnesses, like RSV and COVID-19 will be spreading. Getting a flu vaccine will be more important than ever. The CDC recommends that all people 6 months and older get a yearly flu vaccine.

No. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection. That’s why it’s better to get vaccinated early in the fall, before the flu season really gets under way.

Yes. It is possible have flu, as well as other respiratory illnesses at the same time. Many of the symptoms of flu and other illnesses are similar, making it hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Your provider may recommend testing to help determine the cause of your illness and treatment recommendations.

Getting a flu vaccine will not protect against all viral respiratory illnesses, however flu vaccination has many other important benefits. Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death. Getting a flu vaccine this fall will be more important than ever, not only to reduce your risk from flu but also to avoid trips to the doctor, spreading it to others, or missing events you can’t or don’t want to miss.

Yes, it is safe for your child to receive multiple vaccines at the same office visit.