*Getting a yearly flu vaccination is the best way to prevent 

flu and its potentially serious complications.*

Prevention steps and strategies

Take time to get a flu vaccine!

• CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important action in reducing your risk of flu and its potentially serious outcomes.

• For More information on the Flu vaccine: American Academy of Pediatrics Flu Vaccine Recomendations 

• Flu vaccines help to reduce the burden of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths on the health care system each year. (Read more about flu vaccine benefits.)

• Flu vaccination also has been shown to reduce the severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.

• Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu vaccine, ideally by the end of October but people should continue to get vaccinated as long as flu viruses pose a threat to their community.

Signs and Symptoms of Flu

• Influenza (also known as “flu”) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.

• It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.

• Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms:

• • fever* or feeling feverish/chills --> (*It's important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.)

  • cough

  • sore throat

  • runny or stuffy nose

  • muscle or body aches

  • headaches

  • fatigue (tiredness)

  • some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

Flu Complications

Most people who get flu will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some people will develop complications (such as pneumonia) as a result of flu, some of which can be life-threatening and result in death.

Sinus and ear infections are examples of moderate complications from flu, while pneumonia is a serious flu complication that can result from either flu virus infection alone or from co-infection of flu virus and bacteria. Other possible serious complications can include inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis) or muscle tissues (myositis, rhabdomyolysis), and multi-organ failure (for example, respiratory and kidney failure). Flu also can make chronic medical problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have flu.

Other Preventive Actions

In addition to getting a flu vaccine, people with asthma should take the same everyday preventive actions CDC recommends for everyone, including avoiding people who are sick, covering coughs, and washing hands often. This also can include taking steps for cleaner air and hygiene practices like cleaning frequently touched surfaces. More information is available about core and additional prevention strategies.

Treatment

CDC recommends early flu antiviral treatment for people who have flu or suspected flu who are at higher risk of serious flu complications.

Getting Your Flu Vaccine for Free or at Low Cost

Most health care insurance plans cover the annual flu shot as preventive care. Flu vaccination is often available at no or low cost to people who do not have insurance.

Vaccination information for children

If your child IS insured:

• If your child is insured, most health care insurance plans cover flu vaccination at no cost to you. Check that your provider takes your child's insurance.

• Flu vaccine is also available at no cost* to you through CDC's Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program. A child must qualify for this program.

If your child is NOT insured:

• If your child is not insured, ask your child's doctor if they are a VFC provider or you can contact your state or local health department to find a VFC provider.

Vaccines for Children (VCF) Program:

The VFC program serves children through 18 years of age who meet at least one of the following criteria:

• American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN)

• Medicaid-eligible

• Uninsured

• Underinsured

Vaccination information for adults

• If you have insurance, your flu vaccine will be at no cost to you. Check that your provider takes your insurance.

• If the insurance does not cover flu vaccine or it has a fixed dollar limit or cap for vaccines, there may be options for no-cost or low-cost flu vaccination.

• If you don't have insurance, there may be options for no-cost or low-cost flu vaccination.

Where can you go for no-cost or low-cost vaccines:

• Your health provider

• Pharmacies

• Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) supported health centers

• Some employers, schools, or other community organizations

• You can also find flu vaccine at Vaccines.gov.

(*You may be charged an office visit fee and/or admin fee.)

References: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, American Academy of Pediatrics