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Learn the best time to get your flu shot—and 5 other important facts

Get the facts—and avoid common myths—so you can avoid getting the flu this season.

Updated on September 24, 2024

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Flu season typically begins in October and lasts until May, though most illnesses usually occur between December and February. Each season, there are between 9 and 41 million individual cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite those high numbers, there remain a lot of myths and misunderstandings surrounding the flu virus.

Here areShow More

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Only the flu virus can cause the flu

There are only two types of the influenza virus—types A and B—that can cause the seasonal flu. But many people believe the flu can be caused by exposure to weather, bacteria and other factors, says Sarah Park, MD, FAAP, a pediatric infectious disease specialist in Honolulu. 

“I’ve heard peopleShow More

woman in bed, blowing nose, tissue, sick, bedroom
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Everyone is susceptible to the flu

Though eating a healthy diet, exercising, and getting plenty of sleep are key to well-being, they won’t necessarily protect you from catching the flu. No type of person is more or less likely to get the flu virus, but some people are more likely to contract a more severe infection than others. “Show More

shot, arm, patient, nurse, vaccine
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Vaccines don’t cause the flu

There are two ways to be immunized against the flu. The first is a shot. The second is a nasal spray

The flu shot can cause side effects like soreness and swelling at the site of injection, headache, and nausea, but it cannot cause the flu. Vaccines contain inactivated virus—so they’re no longerShow More

hand washing, sink, faucet, water, soap, bubbles
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You can take steps to prevent the flu

The best thing one can do to prevent catching the flu—and many other diseases—is practicing proper hand washing, says Park. Remember: Lather up and scrub the fronts and backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your fingernails for at least 20 seconds (or about the time it takes to singShow More

allergy test, cotton swab, arm, nurse, patient
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People with egg allergies can be vaccinated

Because the flu vaccine contains trace amounts of egg proteins, it used to be recommended that people with egg allergies not be vaccinated, or they should be monitored for signs of an allergic reaction for up to 30 minutes after receiving the vaccine.

In 2016, however, the Advisory Committee onShow More

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There is a right time to get vaccinated

When is the best time to receive your flu vaccine? It is possible to catch the flu at any time of the year, but it is best to be vaccinated early in the flu season, which generally starts in October. 

It can take up to two weeks for full immunity to develop after being vaccinated. So, try toShow More

Slideshow sources open slideshow sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza (Flu): Flu Season. Reviewed September 20, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu Burden: Facts About Estimated Flu Burden. August 14, 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza (Flu): Types of Influenza Viruses. Reviewed March 30, 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza (Flu): Cold Versus Flu. Reviewed September 29, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza (Flu): People at Higher Risk of Flu Complications. Reviewed August 25, 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza (Flu): Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine [LAIV] (The Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine). Reviewed August 25, 2022.
Mayo Clinic. Flu shot: Your best bet for avoiding influenza. September 22, 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza (Flu): Preventive Actions to Help Protect Against Flu. Reviewed March 21, 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza (Flu): Flu Vaccine and People with Egg Allergies. Reviewed August 25, 2023.
Armstrong, C. ACIP Updates Influenza Vaccination Recommendations for 2016–2017. Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(8):668-671. 
U.S. Food & Drug Administration. It’s a Good Time to Get Your Flu Vaccine. August 14, 2024.

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