Virus shot

Important update: Healthcare facilities. Learn more. Minus Related Pages. See media statement Spanish. What different vaccines are available? Are they safe? What are possible side effects? What if I am immunocompromised? Cell-Based Flu Vaccines. Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine. Flu Vaccination by Jet Injector. Adjuvanted Vaccine. Recombinant Flu Vaccines. Additional Resources. Communication Resource Center. What CDC Does. To receive weekly email updates about Seasonal Flu, enter your email address: Email Address.

Everyone ages 12 years and older who has completed their primary series should get a booster. An additional primary dose is for people who did not build enough or any protection from their primary vaccine series. See recommendations for immunocompromised people. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Important update: Healthcare facilities.

Learn more. Updated Jan. Minus Related Pages. You may have side effects after vaccination, but these are normal. Influenza Flu. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. Quadrivalent flu vaccines include: Standard-dose quadrivalent influenza shots that are manufactured using virus grown in eggs. Different influenza shots are licensed for different age groups. These four vaccines are approved for people 6 months of age and older.

Most influenza shots are given in an arm muscle with a needle. One quadrivalent influenza shot Afluria Quadrivalent can be given either with a needle for people aged 6 months and older or with a jet injector for people aged 18 through 64 years only.

A quadrivalent cell-based influenza shot Flucelvax Quadrivalent containing virus grown in cell culture, which is licensed for people 4 years and older. This vaccine is egg-free. Recombinant quadrivalent influenza shot Flublok Quadrivalent , an egg-free vaccine, approved for people 18 years and older. A quadrivalent flu shot using an adjuvant an ingredient that helps create a stronger immune response , Fluad Quadrivalent, approved for people 65 years of age and older.

A quadrivalent high-dose influenza vaccine Fluzone High-Dose, which contains a higher dose of antigen to help create a stronger immune response, licensed for people 65 years and older. A live attenuated influenza vaccine FluMist Quadrivalent , which is given intranasally. This vaccine is approved for people 2 through 49 years of age. Live attenuated influenza vaccine should not be given to people who are pregnant, immunocompromised persons, and some other groups.

There are many flu vaccine options to choose from, but the most important thing is for all people 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine every year. Influenza Vaccine Products for the Season. Additional considerations concerning the timing of vaccination for certain groups include: Adults, especially those 65 years and older, should generally not get vaccinated early in July or August because protection may decrease over time, but early vaccination can be considered for any person who is unable to return at a later time to be vaccinated.

Children can get vaccinated as soon as vaccine becomes available, even if this is in July or August. Some children need two doses of flu vaccine. For those children it is recommended to get the first dose as soon as vaccine is available, because the second dose needs to be given at least 4 weeks after the first.

Early vaccination can also be considered for people who are in the third trimester of pregnancy, because this can help protect their infants during the first months of life when they are too young to be vaccinated. Find flu vaccines in your area. Everyone 6 months of age and older needs a flu vaccine. Flu vaccination can keep you from getting sick with flu.

For example, during flu vaccination prevented an estimated 7. During seasons when flu vaccine viruses are similar to circulating flu viruses, flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor with flu by 40 percent to 60 percent.

Flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick. A study external icon showed that among adults hospitalized with flu, vaccinated patients were 59 percent less likely to be admitted to the ICU than those who had not been vaccinated. Among adults in the ICU with flu, vaccinated patients on average spent 4 fewer days in the hospital than those who were not vaccinated.