Flu Immunization

Why should people get vaccinated against the flu?

Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Flu infections can affect people differently, but every year hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands of people die from the flu. Annual flu vaccines are the best way to reduce the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children.

When should I get vaccinated?

You should get a flu vaccine before flu viruses begin spreading in your community, since it takes about two weeks after vaccination to build immunity. CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October. However, getting vaccinated too early (July or August) may reduce protection against flu infection later in the flu season, particularly among older adults. Vaccination will be offered throughout the flu season as late as January or later. Children who need two doses of vaccine should start the vaccination process sooner, because the two doses must be given at least four weeks apart.

Where should I get vaccinated?

Flu vaccines are available in most doctor’s offices, clinics, health departments, pharmacies and college health centers, as well as some employers, and even in schools.

To find a place to get vaccinated near you, please click Find A Provider

Why do I need a flu vaccine every year?
It’s important to get flu vaccine every year for two reasons.

1) Immune protection from vaccination declines over time, so an annual vaccine is needed for optimal protection.
2) Flu viruses are constantly changing, flu vaccines will be updated from one season to the next to protect against the viruses that may be most common in the upcoming flu season. For best protection, everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated every year.

From https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm

In addition to flu vaccines, adults and children have vaccines that will have to be administered on a periodic basis according to CDC vaccination schedules. For the full vaccination schedules, please see the following links to the CDC website

To see Vaccination Schedules:
Children: 0 – 18 years old
Birth-18 Years Immunization Schedule | CDC
Adults: 19 and older
Adult Immunization Schedule by Vaccine and Age Group | CDC