What to know
- Health care professionals can find information about influenza vaccine recommendations, how to talk to patients about influenza vaccination, vaccine dosage and administration, and vaccine safety below.
- CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for all people aged 6 months and older who do not have a contraindication to vaccination to protect against influenza and its complications.
Who is recommended for influenza vaccination
CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for all people aged 6 months and older who do not have a contraindication to vaccination. A summary of the most recent Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for influenza vaccination is available at ACIP Recommendations Summary.
Talking About Influenza Vaccine Recommendation
The decision to get an influenza vaccine, or any vaccine, is a personal one. Research shows that a strong recommendation from a health care professional is an important factor in whether someone decides to get vaccinated. More information about how to talk to patients about influenza vaccination is available at Talking About Influenza Vaccine Recommendation.
Influenza Vaccine Dosage and Administration
The influenza vaccine dose given and number of doses needed are based on the patient's age, previous vaccination history, and the specific vaccine being used. Not all influenza vaccines are approved for use in all people. Most influenza vaccines are administered by intramuscular injection. One is administered as an intranasal spray. More information about influenza vaccine dosage and administration, including coadministration with other vaccines, is available at Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Dosage & Administration.
Influenza vaccine safety
CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitor the safety of all vaccines licensed in the United States, including seasonal influenza vaccines. Studies support the safety of annual influenza vaccination in children and adults. More information about influenza vaccine safety, including adverse events, contraindications, and precautions is available at Clinical Guidance for Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Safety.
Influenza vaccine benefits and safety considerations during pregnancy or while breastfeeding
Women who are pregnant or will be pregnant during influenza season should get an influenza vaccine. Women who are pregnant should get a flu shot and not the nasal spray influenza vaccine. Women who will be pregnant, but who are not yet pregnant, can get either the injectable or nasal spray influenza vaccine. Getting a flu shot during pregnancy reduces the risk of pregnant women getting influenza or developing serious flu complications that can result in hospitalization. It also helps to protect their babies from influenza illness for the first several months after birth, when they are too young to get vaccinated themselves. Studies support the safety of flu shots for pregnant women and their babies during any trimester of pregnancy. More information is available at Influenza Vaccine Benefits and Safety Considerations during Pregnancy or while Breastfeeding.