Influenza (Flu)

Why vaccinate adults against influenza?

• Depending on the severity of circulating strains, the flu kills between 3,000 and 49,000 individuals in the US annually.
• Influenza can cause serious complications in people with a variety of chronic illnesses, including asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and immunosuppression.
• In the US, as many as one in five individuals get influenza each year, and while the virus can be mild in some years, it can be very severe in others, causing debilitating illness and death even in previously healthy people. 
• Direct medical costs of a moderately severe seasonal influenza outbreak average more than $10 billion.

• All adults need influenza vaccine every year.
• You can get the vaccine as soon as it becomes available in your area or anytime during the influenza season.
• Adults with certain health conditions including heart disease, asthma, diabetes, a liver or kidney disorder, or a weakened immune system are at especially high-risk for influenza and its complications. In most cases, they should also be vaccinated for pneumococcal disease.

• The severity of flu can vary based on which strains are circulating. Common symptoms include fever, aches, chills, tiredness, and sudden onsite. Other symptoms may include a cough, runny/stuffy nose, and/or sore throat.
• Influenza can become severe, even in healthy people, and can lead to complications resulting in hospitalization or death.
• People can spread the flu virus to others before they know they are sick.

• Influenza viruses are very “smart” and they change often to avoid our immune systems. The influenza vaccine is updated annually to include protection against the current viruses circulating.
• There’s no easy way to know when an influenza season will be severe, so vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and those around you.