Updated on September 9, 2024.
Fall is a busy time for many people. As long summer days fade into memories, schedules become crowded with school events and kids’ sports, work meetings, errands, or other obligations. But carving out a few minutes to get a seasonal flu shot remains as important—and as simple—as ever.
Getting immunized is the single best way to protect against serious disease and save lives, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The flu vaccine has been around for many decades, but misconceptions about the seasonal shot persist. If you’ve relied on any of the following excuses in the past to skip your flu shot, it’s time to reconsider.
Excuse: It's too late
Flu activity usually starts to pick up in October and peaks between December and January but can last until May. It's true, getting a flu shot earlier in the season offers the best protection. But the vaccine will continue to be offered throughout the flu season, even into January or later.
When is the best time to get your flu shot? Ideally, everyone 6 months and older should receive a flu vaccine in September or October. But if you are not able to get the shot until November or later, you should still get vaccinated.
Check with your healthcare provider (HCP) about when the flu shot will be available in your area and when to get it.
Excuse: I'm healthy
The flu vaccine is especially important for people at high risk of complications from the flu. These include pregnant people, young kids, those older than 65, and anyone with a compromised immune system. But everyone who is eligible for the shot can benefit from being immunized.
Getting the flu vaccine can help protect you from getting the flu and spreading it to others, including older adults or those with underlying health conditions who may not be able to effectively fight off an infection. Also, when you get the flu vaccine, you help protect those who are not able to receive it, such as infants younger than 6 months old or people with certain health issues or allergies.
Excuse: I had a flu shot last year
This is great to hear, but you’ll still need to get another one this year. Researchers are working to develop a universal flu vaccine. But for now, the flu shot is seasonal. That means it’s reformulated every year to protect against the strains (or types) of the flu virus that experts predict will be most widespread each season.
Excuse: The flu shot always makes me sick
The flu vaccine is made from dead or weakened viruses, so it can't make you sick with the flu. Some people may not feel well for a few days after getting the vaccine, with mild symptoms including a fever, headache, or fatigue. But these are the result of your immune system responding to the vaccine and building protection against the flu rather than from an actual infection with the flu.
If you do get sick, chances are you were exposed to the flu virus before getting the shot or you picked up a virus not covered by the vaccine. It can take up to two weeks to get full protection from the vaccine.
Excuse: I live in a warm climate
It’s true that the flu virus spreads more easily when temperatures outside are cold (and more people are gathering indoors) or the air is dry, such as when you have the heat running indoors. But you can still get sick in a warm climate. The flu can be just as widespread in the sunny Southwest as it is in the chilly Northeast.
Excuse: I got the flu shot last year but still got the flu, so the vaccine doesn’t work.
Occasionally people who get the flu shot end up getting the flu. The flu shot does not protect against every type of flu virus. It is formulated to offer protection from flu viruses predicted to be most prevalent during any given flu season. But even if you still get the flu, the shot likely provided some protection and resulted in a milder infection. That means the symptoms you may experience if you get the flu are usually less severe if you got the flu shot.
Excuse: The flu vaccine costs too much
Most insurance and other government-sponsored healthcare plans cover the flu vaccine. Some employers will give the flu shot to their employees for free, as will many local health departments. The cost of providing flu shots is much lower than the cost of treating severe flu complications that could result in hospitalizations—or even deaths.
Excuse: I heard that it’s better to get the flu than to get a flu vaccine
The viruses that cause the seasonal flu can be very serious, especially for young children, older adults, pregnant people, those with chronic health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and heart disease), and those who have weakened immune systems. Any flu strain carries the risk of serious complications, hospitalization, or death.
Meanwhile, the most common side effects of the flu shot are relatively mild and short-lived, lasting only a day or two. These include soreness, redness, or swelling in the area where the shot was given, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. The flu shot is a safer bet than getting the flu, which can cause symptoms that last for several days—or longer if your infection is more severe.
Excuse: I had COVID, so I should be protected from the flu
COVID results from infection with variants of the coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2. And while the COVID vaccine protects against this disease, it does not offer protection against the flu.
In 2023, more than 916,300 people were hospitalized with COVID and more than 75,500 people died from the disease. The virus that causes COVID is always changing. Meanwhile, people’s immunity to the disease declines over time. Ongoing wastewater surveillance shows that COVID activity is currently high or very high in many states. As fall and winter sets in, the virus could have more opportunity to spread.
Scientists are working on developing a combination COVID/flu vaccine, but for now, the best way to avoid getting the seasonal flu is to get the flu vaccine every year. And if you get COVID, you don’t want to also have the flu. This could increase your risk of serious illness.
Everyone ages 6 months and older should receive the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine and a flu shot. It is safe to get both vaccines at the same time.
Remember, it's not just about you. Getting vaccinated can protect your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and members of your community from getting sick, too.
