VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT
Many vaccine information statements are
available in Spanish and other languages.
See www.immunize.org/vis
Hojas de información sobre vacunas están
disponibles en español y en muchos otros
idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/vis
U.S. Department of
Health and Human Service
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
1. Why get vaccinated?
Inuenza vaccine can prevent inuenza (u).
Flu is a contagious disease that spreads around the
United States every year, usually between October
and May. Anyone can get the u, but it is more
dangerous for some people. Infants and young
children, people 65 years and older, pregnant people,
and people with certain health conditions or a
weakened immune system are at greatest risk of u
complications.
Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, and ear
infections are examples of u-related complications.
If you have a medical condition, such as heart
disease, cancer, or diabetes, u can make it worse.
Flu can cause fever and chills, sore throat, muscle
aches, fatigue, cough, headache, and runny or stuy
nose. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea,
though this is more common in children than adults.
In an average year, thousands of people in the
United States die from u, and many more are
hospitalized. Flu vaccine prevents millions of
illnesses and u-related visits to the doctor each year.
2. Influenza vaccines
CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older
get vaccinated every u season. Children 6 months
through 8 years of age may need 2 doses during a
single u season. Everyone else needs only 1 dose
each u season.
It takes about 2 weeks for protection to develop
aer vaccination.
ere are many u viruses, and they are always
changing. Each year a new u vaccine is made to
protect against the inuenza viruses believed to be
likely to cause disease in the upcoming u season.
Even when the vaccine doesn’t exactly match these
viruses, it may still provide some protection.
Inuenza vaccine does not cause u.
Inuenza vaccine may be given at the same time as
other vaccines.
3. Talk with your health
care provider
Tell your vaccination provider if the person getting
the vaccine:
Has had an allergic reaction aer a previous
dose of inuenza vaccine, or has any severe, life-
threatening allergies
Has ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (also
called “GBS”)
In some cases, your health care provider may decide
to postpone inuenza vaccination until a future visit.
Inuenza vaccine can be administered at any
time during pregnancy. People who are or will be
pregnant during inuenza season should receive
inactivated inuenza vaccine.
People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be
vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely ill
should usually wait until they recover before getting
inuenza vaccine.
Your health care provider can give you more
information.
Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (Inactivated or
Recombinant): What you need to know