Sign Promise Wall
Mission: To save lives and reduce hospitalizations by protecting children, families, and communities against influenza.
Insights on Influenza
  • Flu Prevention

Plan your Flu Vaccines

hand holding vaccine
Posted on August 1, 2022
Share this article:

It may seem early, but NOW is the time to make a plan for flu vaccination. While there are still concerns about the spread of COVID-19, we also need to prepare for the arrival of seasonal flu – another potentially deadly virus.

Here are some tips to make sure you plan for your entire family to get vaccinated.

WHO:

  • Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone, every year.
  • Flu vaccination starts at 6 months old and every year after that.
  • Children under 9-years-old who are receiving their first-ever flu vaccine need two doses spaced out by one month.
  • While everyone needs a flu vaccine every year, there are different types for different people. For example, a child may prefer a needle-free option and there are specific flu vaccines for people who are age 65 and older.

WHAT:

  • Influenza or “flu” is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract (nose, throat, and lungs) that can cause mild to severe illness, and can result in complications that can lead to hospitalization or death. 
  • Flu vaccines have been used since 1945 with very good safety records.  Vaccines go through years of research and clinical trials before they are made available to the general public.
  • You cannot get the flu from a flu vaccine – to cause infection, flu viruses need to reproduce, i.e., make copies of themselves. Flu vaccines do not contain viruses that can reproduce and make you sick with the flu.

WHERE:

  • Flu vaccines are available in the fall at your healthcare professional’s office or your local pharmacy.
  • If you need help finding a place to get a flu vaccine, or if you’re looking for a specific type (like the nasal mist, egg-free, etc), check out the Vaccine Finder.

WHEN:

  • CDC recommends that people get their annual flu vaccine by the end of October.
  • It’s still beneficial to get vaccinated after October and during the flu season.
  • Receiving the flu vaccine after October (even as late as January) is still better than not receiving one at all. Flu infections and hospitalizations tend to peak in February each year. While getting vaccinated early (September) is ideal, getting vaccinated later in the season is still advisable

WHY:

  • It’s not “just” the flu – it’s a serious, but preventable, disease!

 

You might also be interested in...

Caring for Elderly Loved Ones During Flu Season
How to Protect Your Child from the Flu
Dispelling Common Flu Myths: Debunking Misconceptions About the Influenza Vaccine

Find a Flu Vaccine

Vaccine Finder
Stay Informed
Sign up for our Weekly Flu News and quarterly newsletter, Fighting Influenza, to stay up-to-date on the latest flu news.
Newsletter

LOGO LICENSE AGREEMENT

You are required to accept all of the terms and conditions in this License Agreement in order to receive a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable, royalty-free license to use the FAMILIES FIGHTING FLU, INC. logo, displayed below (the “FFF Logo”), from Families Fighting Flu, Inc. (“FFF”). In order to accept these terms and conditions, you must click the “I Accept” button below.

  1. FFF hereby grants to you, and you accept, a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable, royalty-free license to use the FFF Logo, which you may download and use solely in online and print earned media publications for a period of no more than six (6) months in the United States.
  2. You acknowledge that the FFF Logo is a valid trademark; that FFF is the sole owner of the FFF Logo; and that FFF retains all right, title, and interest in and to the FFF Logo. You agree that any and all use that you make of the FFF Logo, and any and all goodwill arising from your use of the FFF Logo, shall inure exclusively to the benefit of FFF.  You also agree that you shall not challenge the validity of the FFF Logo or FFF’s ownership or title thereto during the term of the License Agreement or thereafter.
  3. You agree that you shall use the FFF Logo only in the form shown above, and that you shall not alter, modify, change, or edit the FFF Logo in any manner.
  4. You acknowledge the valuable goodwill and reputation in the FFF Logo, and that it is essential that the high standards and reputation associated with the FFF Logo be maintained. You therefore agree to use the FFF Logo consistent with the highest standards of quality so as to protect and maintain the FFF Logo and FFF’s rights therein.
  5. FFF shall have the right to review and inspect your use of the FFF Logo at any time. FFF, in its sole discretion, may determine that you are not using the FFF Logo in an acceptable manner and require that you discontinue your use of the FFF Logo.  To the extent that FFF requires that you discontinue your use of the FFF Logo, you agree that you shall remove the FFF Logo from all online and print earned media publications as soon as practicable under the circumstances, and that you shall not use the FFF at any time in the future.
  6. You must include the following notice in connection with any use of the FFF Logo: “The Families Fighting Flu, Inc. logo is the registered trademark of Families Fighting Flu, Inc.”
I Accept