best flu vaccine for adults :: Article CreatorCOVID, RSV, Flu: Vaccines Recommended For Adults This Year
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Adult Influenza Vaccine (Flu Shot And Nasal Spray): Guidelines ... - WebMD
The influenza vaccine is a yearly vaccine that protects you from getting the flu, a viral respiratory illness that spreads very easily. The flu can lead to serious health complications and possibly death.
The best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated. There are a few types of flu vaccines:
Flu shot: The flu shot is typically given to people six months and older. It is an inactive vaccine, which means it is made using a dead form of the viruses the shot protects against. The dead germs cannot make you sick. Those ages 18 to 64 can opt for an intradermal flu shot. This injection uses a smaller needle and goes into the top layer of the skin instead of the muscle. The vaccines are generally safe for those with egg allergies. If you have severe allergies you should get the flu shot from a doctor who can treat a severe allergic reaction -- either at your doctor's office, a hospital, a clinic, or a health department. Fluzone high dose: This inactivated vaccine was developed for those ages 65 and older, because older people have weaker immune systems. It's preferred for this group instead of a regular flu shot when available. Egg-free vaccines: Unlike most flu vaccines, these are not grown inside eggs. They're approved for people with a severe allergy to eggs. Nasal spray: The nasal spray flu vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine, or LAIV. Unlike the flu shot, it is made from live, but weakened, influenza viruses. However, you cannot get the flu from the nasal spray vaccine. Healthy, non-pregnant people ages 2 to 49 may receive the nasal spray. The three or four flu strains covered by the flu vaccine differ from year to year. That's because the flu viruses are constantly changing. Scientists develop a new flu vaccine each season based on research that predicts which strains will be most likely to make you sick.
Flu seasons also vary, depending on where you live. Flu season can run from October to May. You should get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine becomes available. It takes about two weeks for the flu vaccine to start working, so you want to make sure you are fully protected as soon as possible. Generally, the seasonal flu vaccine is available from September until spring.
The CDC recommends that most every adult receive a flu vaccine every year, especially those who are at high risk for developing flu-related complications and those who care for or live with such people, such as health care workers.
You are more likely to develop serious flu-related complications and should get a flu vaccine if you have:
Your risk of developing flu-related complications is also increased if you are:
Older than age 50 or younger than age 2 Pregnant American Indian or Alaskan Native You should also get a flu vaccine if you live in a nursing home or other long-term care facility.
You should NOT get the influenza vaccine if you:
Developed Guillain-Barre syndrome within six weeks of receiving the flu vaccine in the past Had a severe reaction to the flu vaccine in the past Have a severe allergy to any vaccine component It's long been advised that people with allergies to eggs should not get the flu shot. However, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says the vaccine contains such a low amount of egg protein that it's unlikely to cause an allergic reaction in those with an egg allergy. If you have a severe egg allergy (anaphylaxis), talk to your doctor before getting the flu vaccine. Also, as mentioned above, flu vaccines not made with eggs are available.
The nasal spray flu vaccine can only be used in healthy, younger adults who are not pregnant. In addition to the previously listed adults who should not receive the flu shot, adults should NOT get the nasal spray influenza vaccine if they:
Are pregnant Are ages 50 or older Have a weakened immune system due to disease or certain medical treatments Have a long-term health condition, such as diabetes, kidney disease, or heart or lung disease, including asthma Have a muscle or nerve condition that can cause problems with breathing or swallowing (such as epilepsy or cerebral palsy) Have a weakened immune system Have a nasal condition that could make breathing difficult You should not get the nasal spray flu vaccine if you are in contact with people who have a severely weakened immune system.
If you are moderately to severely ill, your doctor may recommend waiting to get the shot until after you recover. The CDC says you can still get the vaccine if you have a mild illness such as a cold or low-grade fever.
If you have a stuffy nose, your doctor may recommend that you wait to get the nasal spray flu vaccine, or get the flu shot instead.
Like all medications, vaccines can have side effects. But the risk of harm or death from the influenza vaccine is rare.
The flu shot and nasal spray can cause different types of side effects.
Flu shot side effects may include:
Low fever Muscle aches Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given The nasal spray flu vaccine for adults may cause:
Although it's rare, someone may have a severe allergic reaction to an ingredient in the vaccine. Most of the time, such reactions occur within a few minutes to a few hours of receiving the vaccine. The following can be signs of a severe allergic reaction:
Seek immediate medical care if you notice any of these signs after receiving the influenza vaccine.
As Flu Cases Break Records This Year, Vaccine Rates Are Declining ...
The Conversation asked epidemiologist Annette Regan to explain why this flu season is different from last year's and what people can do to help reduce the spread.
MORE: The key to happiness? Don't strive for it How do flu cases and hospitalizations this year compare with previous years?
Beginning in late January and extending through February 2025, flu hospitalizations have been higher than any other week since before 2009.
Most flu cases appear to be from influenza A strains, with a split between influenza A/H3N2 and influenza A/H1N1. These are two different subtypes of the influenza A virus.
Researchers believe that historically seasons that are predominated by influenza A/H3N2 infections tend to be more severe, but infections from influenza A/H1N1 can still be very severe.
This year's season is also peaking "late" compared with the past three flu seasons, which peaked in early or late December.
Unfortunately, there have been a number of deaths from flu too this season. Since Jan. 1, 2025, alone, over 4,000 people, including 68 children, have died from flu. While the number of deaths do not mark a record number, it shows that flu can be a serious illness, even in children.
Why are flu cases so high this year?
There are a number of factors behind any severe season, including poor community protection from low immunization rates and low natural immunity, virus characteristics, vaccine effectiveness and increased human contact via travel, office work or schools.
Unfortunately, flu vaccination rates have declined since the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the 2023-24 flu season, 9.2 million fewer doses were administered in pharmacies and doctors' offices compared with an average year before the pandemic.
In addition, since 2022, fewer and fewer doses of flu vaccine have been distributed by private manufacturers. Flu vaccination rates for adults have historically been in the 30% to 60% range, much lower than the recommended 70%. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, flu vaccination rates were increasing by around 1% to 2% every year.
Flu vaccination rates began dropping after the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in higher-risk groups. Flu vaccination in children has dropped from 59% in 2019-20 to 46% in 2024-25. In adults 65 years and older, the group with the greatest risk of hospitalization and death, flu vaccination rates dropped from 52% in 2019-20 to 43% in 2024-25.
Lower vaccination rates mean a greater portion of the population is not protected by vaccines. Data shows that vaccination reduces the risk of flu hospitalization. Even if a vaccinated person gets infected, they may be less likely to experience severe illness. As a result, low vaccination rates could contribute to higher flu severity this season.
However, low vaccination rates are probably not the only reason for the high rates of flu this season. In previous severe seasons, genetic changes to the viruses have made them better at infecting people and more likely to cause severe illness.
The effectiveness of annual flu vaccines varies depending on how well the vaccine matches the circulating virus. The effectiveness of vaccines ranges from 19% to 60% in any given season. In the 2023-24 flu season, the vaccine was 42% effective.
Similarly, early 2024-25 data from the U.S. Shows that the vaccine was 41% to 55% effective against flu hospitalizations in adults and 63% to 78% effective against flu hospitalizations in children.
How do seasonal flu symptoms differ from COVID-19 and other illnesses?
It's important to remember that people often incorrectly refer to "the flu" when they have a common cold. Flu is caused only by the influenza virus, which tends to be more severe than common colds and more commonly causes a fever.
Many of the signs and symptoms for flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses are the same and can range from mild coldlike symptoms to pneumonia and respiratory distress. Common flu symptoms are fever, cough and fatigue, and may also include shortness of breath, a sore throat, nasal congestion, muscle aches and headache.
Some symptoms, such as changes in or loss of taste and smell, are more common for COVID-19. For both COVID-19 and flu, the symptoms do not start until about one to four days after infection, and symptoms seem to last longer for COVID-19.
The only way to know what virus is causing an infection is to test. This can be done using a rapid test, some of which now test for flu and COVID-19 together, or by seeing a doctor and getting tested using a nasal swab. There are prescription antiviral medications available to treat flu and COVID-19, but they need to be taken near the time that symptoms start.
Some people are at high risk of severe flu and COVID-19, such as those who are immunosuppressed, have diabetes or have chronic heart or lung conditions. In these cases, it is important to seek early care and treatment from a health care professional. Some doctors will also prescribe via telehealth calls, which can help reduce the strain on doctors' offices, urgent care centers and emergency rooms when infection rates are high.
What can people do now to help steer clear of the flu?
There are a number of ways people can reduce their risk of getting or spreading flu. Since the flu season is still underway, it's not too late to get a flu vaccine. Even in seasons when the vaccine's effectiveness is low, it is likely to offer better protection compared with remaining unvaccinated.
Handwashing and disinfecting high-traffic surfaces can help reduce contact with the flu virus. Taking efforts to avoid contact with sick people can also help, including wearing a mask when in health care facilities.
Finally, remember to take care of yourself. Exercising, eating healthy and getting sufficient sleep all help support a healthy immune system, which can help reduce chances of infection.
Those who have been diagnosed with flu or are experiencing flu-like symptoms should avoid contact with other people, especially in crowded spaces. Covering coughs and sneezes can help reduce the amount of virus that is spread.
Annette Regan, Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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