[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/10\/faq-flu-shot\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/10\/faq-flu-shot\/","headline":"Frequently Asked Questions About the Flu Shot","name":"Frequently Asked Questions About the Flu Shot","description":"Your meta description should be 160 characters or less, include the target keyword(s), and accurately describe your story in a way that entices readers to click. Note: Do not include quotation marks, as these trigger truncation. \r\n\r\nExample: \"Thanks to social media, it's easier than ever to advertise your content. But is it worth it? Discover why three online advertising experts say yes.\"","datePublished":"2020-10-15","dateModified":"2024-10-07","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/iStock-1266490076-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/iStock-1266490076-1.jpg","height":363,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/10\/faq-flu-shot\/","about":["COVID-19","Family Health","Living and Wellness"],"wordCount":1056,"keywords":["cold and flu","COVID-19"],"articleBody":"Disclaimer: At UPMC HealthBeat, we strive to provide the most up-to-date facts in our stories when we publish them. We also make updates to our content as information changes. However, education about COVID-19 can shift quickly based on new data, emerging variants, or other factors. The information in this story was accurate as of its publish date. We also encourage you to visit other reliable websites for updated information, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and your state and local governments.\u00a0The flu shot plays an essential role in protecting you, your family, and your community from illness.Both the seasonal influenza virus that causes the flu and the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 spread from person-to-person contact. A flu shot cannot prevent COVID-19 or its variants. But getting a flu shot is still important and extremely safe for most people.For information on receiving your COVID-19 vaccine, visit our website.\u00a0Here are answers to some questions frequently asked about flu shots:Will a Flu Shot Help Protect Me from COVID-19?A flu shot won\u2019t protect you from COVID-19, but it will reduce your risk of having to fight two infections at once. And it lowers your chances of being hospitalized if you get the flu.The best way to prevent COVID-19 (or lessen the severity of the illness) is to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. These vaccines are safe, widely used, and highly effective. You can receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as your flu shot.Who Should Get a Flu Shot?The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get the seasonal flu vaccine every year.For pregnant women, the CDC recommends the flu shot (not the nasal spray vaccine) to protect against flu infections and complications. The flu shot also protects the baby for up to one year after birth.Is the Flu Shot Safe for Children?Yes, it is important for children to get their flu vaccine to help reduce flu illnesses, doctor visits, and missed school days. Especially since children who are younger than 5 or who have certain chronic health conditions have an increased risk of developing serious flu-related complications.The flu is more dangerous than the common cold for children and can, in serious cases, lead to hospitalization or death. The CDC recommends children 6 months and older receive the flu vaccine each year. This can include the flu shot or the nasal spray vaccine. Ask your doctor about what is right for your child.Keep in mind that some children may need two doses of flu vaccine. Ask early to get that first dose as soon as possible. The second dose has a waiting period of at least 4 weeks.Will a Flu Shot Give Me the Flu?No, you cannot get the flu from your annual flu shot. Because it is made with an inactivated virus, the flu shot cannot cause illness.Can I Still Get My Flu Shot After Flu Season Starts?It is never too late to get your flu shot. Though the CDC recommends you get your flu shot in September or October, you can benefit from the flu vaccine any time of year. The sooner you receive the vaccination, the better. It can take up to two weeks for your body to build immunity after your flu shot.Does Getting a Flu Shot Guarantee I Won\u2019t Get the Flu?The flu vaccine reduces your chances of catching the flu, but how much it lowers your risk varies each year. That\u2019s because the flu virus itself is constantly evolving, and scientists must keep pace by updating the vaccine.Some years, the flu shot matches the strains circulating in the community very well, so the vaccine is especially effective. In other years, the virus changes quickly, or other strains appear, so the vaccine is less effective.According to the CDC, the flu vaccine is 40% to 60% effective in most flu seasons. In other words, it cuts your risk of getting the flu roughly in half. Even in years when the flu shot doesn\u2019t work as well, it still prevents thousands of hospitalizations and deaths.If you get the flu shot but catch the flu anyway, you\u2019re less likely to develop complications or need hospitalization.Will My Flu Shot Give Me COVID-19?Your annual flu shot will not give you COVID-19. The vaccine doesn\u2019t contain COVID-19. The\u00a0flu and COVID-19\u00a0are different diseases caused by separate strains.Though you can have the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, getting your flu shot will not give you COVID-19.If you do catch the flu after your vaccination, your flu shot will help protect you from serious influenza symptoms. The best way to prevent COVID-19 is to receive your COVID-19 vaccination and practice prevention methods, such as handwashing and mask-wearing.Should I Get My Flu Shot if I Am Wearing a Mask in Public?While mask guidelines are changing as we learn new information, if you wear a mask in public to help prevent disease, you should still get your flu shot.\u00a0Facemasks\u00a0reduce the risk of being exposed to flu and COVID-19. But if you are exposed to the flu, the flu shot helps prevent you from infecting those around you and lowers your chances of ending up in the hospital with influenza.The flu shot doesn\u2019t protect you against COVID-19, so you should continue to follow the latest guidelines on wearing a mask in public areas. UPMC recommends that everyone eligible receive the COVID-19 vaccine.Does the Flu Shot Contain Harmful Ingredients?Vaccines use only the ingredients they need to be as safe and effective as possible.\u00a0Each ingredient\u00a0in a vaccine serves a specific purpose. The flu shot is extremely safe and lowers your risk of getting hospitalized if you do catch the flu despite vaccination.\u00a0The CDC recommends\u00a0that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu vaccine every season, with rare exceptions.Where Can I Get a Flu Shot?At UPMC, we offer convenient options for getting your yearly flu shot. Our hospitals and clinics are following the necessary precautions so you can safely get the care you need \u2014 especially the flu shot.Editor's Note: This video was originally published on October 15, 2020, and was last reviewed on October 7, 2024."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"10","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/\/10\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Frequently Asked Questions About the Flu Shot","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/10\/faq-flu-shot\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]