Everyone aged 6 months and older, with rare exception, is recommended to receive annual flu vaccine. Flu vaccination helps protect you from getting sick with the flu and prevents you from passing it on to those who could get very sick from the flu.
Children less than 6 months of age are too young to receive flu vaccine, which is why it's especially important everyone who comes into contact with young infants receives flu vaccine themselves. Also, if someone has had a serious allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of flu vaccine or to one of the vaccine components*, they should not receive flu vaccine. For more information, refer to information from the CDC and ask your healthcare provider which flu vaccine is right for you and your child.
*Note: All persons ages ≥6 months with egg allergy should receive influenza vaccine. Any influenza vaccine (egg based or non-egg based) that is otherwise appropriate for the recipient’s age and health status can be used. Read more from the CDC.
Yes. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should get a flu shot every year. It is safe to get the vaccine at any time during pregnancy. Flu shots have been given to millions of pregnant women for many years and have not been shown to cause pregnancy problems or birth defects.
Pregnant and postpartum women are at higher risk for severe complications if they get the flu, such as premature labor and delivery. They also have a higher chance of needing to stay in the hospital or even dying from the flu. Getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy lowers the risk of hospitalization by 40% (CDC, 2024).
Getting a flu shot protects both the mother and the baby. Babies cannot get their own flu shot until they are 6 months old. When a pregnant woman gets vaccinated, her body makes protective antibodies that pass to the baby. These antibodies help protect the baby from the flu until they are old enough to get the vaccine. For example, one study found the risk of flu-related hospitalizations or emergency department visits was cut in half for infants younger than 3 months old (CDC, 2023).
For more information, please refer to this FAQ from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Yes. Children should get a flu shot every year for the best protection. Flu can be more serious than a cold and can lead to hospital stays. Each year, millions of kids get the flu, and thousands are hospitalized. During the 2024-25 season, 14 children died in Michigan. Nationally, 280 children died – the highest number on record (except during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic). About half of the children who died had no health problems, and nearly 90% were not fully vaccinated (CDC, 2025).
For the 2025-26 season, children 6 months through 8 years old who have not had at least two flu shots in the past should get two doses, given at least 4 weeks apart. Kids who need two doses should get the first shot as soon as the vaccine is available.
Yes. Nearly everyone aged 6 months and older is recommended to receive a yearly flu vaccine. A person’s immune protection from vaccination declines over time, so an annual vaccination is needed to get the best protection from flu.
Also, flu viruses are constantly changing, so the composition of the viruses in the vaccine are reviewed each year and updated based on which viruses are circulating and making people sick.
No, a flu vaccine cannot cause flu illness. Flu shots are made with either a killed (inactivated) flu virus and are therefore not infectious, or with proteins from a flu virus instead of a flu vaccine virus. Nasal spray flu vaccine is made with weakened (attenuated) live flu viruses, and also cannot cause flu illness.
As with any medicine, there are potential side effects. Some people may get mild and short-lasting symptoms, especially when compared to the flu. These include low-grade fever, muscle aches, or nausea, but this is a sign that your body is responding to the vaccine. It is not the flu. Learn more about what to expect from the CDC.
Get your flu shot before the flu starts spreading in your area. It takes about two weeks after the shot for your body to build protection. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated by the end of October, but it’s still helpful to get the shot later in the season.
Children who need two doses should get their first dose as soon as the vaccine is available, usually in July or August, because the two doses must be at least four weeks apart.
Pregnant women in their third trimester can also get the flu shot as soon as it becomes available.
Yes. It is recommended that adults 65 years and older receive the high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine trivalent (HD-IIV3), trivalent adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine (aIIV3), or trivalent recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV3) – if none of these vaccines are available, then any other influenza vaccine can be used. The nasal spray flu vaccine (live attenuated influenza vaccine or LAIV) should not be used during pregnancy. Otherwise, there is no preference for any one vaccine over another for individuals aged 6 months through 64 years. Read more from the CDC.
It is still possible to get sick with flu even if you’ve been vaccinated. Reasons include:
You may be exposed to a flu virus shortly before getting vaccinated or while your body develops antibodies for protection after getting the vaccine. Antibodies that provide protection take about 2 weeks to develop in the body after vaccination. You may be exposed to a flu virus that is not included in the seasonal flu vaccine. There are many flu viruses that circulate every year. A flu vaccine is made to protect against the three most common flu viruses. Learn more from the CDC.
However, flu vaccination has been shown in studies to reduce severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick, including lower risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, ICU length of stay, and death from flu compared with those who are unvaccinated (CDC, 2025).
Although it is recommended to get flu vaccine by the end of October, vaccination later in the season can still be beneficial. There are additional considerations concerning the timing of vaccination for pregnant people in their third trimester, who may want to get vaccinated in the summer to help protect their infants for the first few months after birth. For additional information regarding timing of flu vaccination, read more from Families Fighting Flu and the CDC. You can also talk to your health care provider to discuss the best timing for you and/or your child’s flu vaccine(s).
Yes, immunocompromised individuals can and should receive a flu vaccine. In people with cancer and weakened immune systems, it's important to prevent the flu because it’s often more serious and is more likely to be life-threatening than in people with a normal immune system. Immunocompromised individuals should talk to their health care provider to discuss which type of vaccine is best. Read more from the CDC and Cancer.org.
Yes, people with minor illnesses, such as a common cold, can still receive a flu vaccine. People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting a flu vaccine. Talk to your health care provider for more information.
Learn more about the Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) for the flu vaccine from the CDC.Yes, you can get flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time. If you prefer to get them at separate times, there is no minimum waiting period between the vaccines.
Learn more about vaccine coadministration from the CDC.Updated 06/16/2026
