Why vaccinate?
Vaccination is the best way to prevent sickness and death from the flu.

Each year's seasonal flu vaccine contains three influenza viruses. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on scientists’ estimations about which types and strains of virus will circulate in a given year. For the 2010-11 season, the H1N1 vaccine is one of the three components in the seasonal flu vaccine.

Seasonal flu
The seasonal (or common) flu is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted person to person. Most people have some immunity. Everyone should get a seasonal flu shot, especially these groups:

• Children age 6 months to 19 years
• Pregnant women
• People age 50 and older
• People with chronic medical conditions
• Healthcare workers

There are two types of seasonal flu vaccines:

• A flu shot given with a needle, usually in the arm;
• A nasal-spray flu vaccine

Nasal spray vaccine can be used by healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49. It should not be used by pregnant women, children under age 2, people with underlying or chronic health conditions or adults age 50 and older.

About two weeks after vaccination, the body develops antibodies that provide protection against influenza infection. 

Effectiveness of the vaccine

Even if you’ve had a flu vaccination, it is still possible, though much less likely, to get a different strain of flu. The ability of flu vaccine to protect you depends on your age and overall health, as well as the similarity or “match” between the virus strains in the vaccine and those in circulation. Testing has shown that both the flu shot and the nasal-spray vaccine are effective at preventing the flu. Studies also show that a flu vaccine will reduce the severity of illness if you are infected by a different strain of flu virus.

Side effects of the vaccine

The seasonal flu shot and nasal spray have different possible side effects. The seasonal flu shot may have minor side effects that last one to two days. These include redness or swelling where the shot was given and low-grade fever, aches and soreness.

The seasonal flu nasal-spray vaccine may cause minor side effects, such as, in children, a runny nose, wheezing, headache, vomiting, muscle aches and fever; and in adults, a runny nose, sore throat and cough.

Who should not be vaccinated?

There are some people who should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. These include:

• People who have allergies to eggs
• People who have had a severe reaction to a previous influenza vaccination
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome within six weeks of getting a previous influenza vaccine
• Children less than six months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group)
• People who have a moderate to severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated).

Where can I get vaccinated?

Visit the flu vaccine locator for a location in your area.