URMC / Flu Vaccine

Flu Vaccine

Preventing the flu this year will be more important than ever before. In the fall, we usually see an increase in cases of the flu, the common cold, and allergies. But this year, we could also see a spike in COVID-19 cases. So as we head into the new season, we all need to do our part to prevent the spread of these illnesses. Here’s what you need to know to keep yourself and your family safe and healthy.

Most people who get the flu will get a mild illness and will recover without medical care. Others, such as young children, pregnant women, older adults, nursing home residents, and people with other health conditions are more likely to suffer from flu-related complications. You can help prevent the spread of influenza by getting a flu shot, practicing good hand washing, maintaining social distance and staying home when you are sick.

CDC Vaccine Finder

Everyone 6 months of age and older needs a flu vaccine. The CDC maintains a tool that will help you find a location where you get your vaccine.

Find flu vaccines in your area

COVID-19 vs. Influenza (flu)

There wasn’t much of a flu season last year. Why do I need a flu shot this year?

Flu is a potentially fatal illness, especially for:

Older adults
People with chronic heart and lung issues
People who are immunocompromised, such as from chemotherapy treatment for cancer
Pregnant women

Last year, flu cases were lower than usual because of COVID precautions in place across the country: people worked from home, avoided crowds, and often school days/sessions were virtual, so there were fewer opportunities for flu virus to spread. But while flu was less prevalent in 2019-2020, it still impacted many people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates flu caused, conservatively, nearly half a million hospitalizations and up to 62,000 deaths in the United States.

In 2021, with schools and businesses opening up, there is a greater chance that this flu season will result in more cases of the flu. And at the same time, we are seeing a concerning rise in the number of COVID cases in our hospitals and in the community. So, a flu shot is a great way to help protect you and those around you. The CDC web site offers comprehensive information about influenza and vaccination: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/. Below is a summary of the most frequently asked questions we receive about flu and vaccination. Your personal physician is also a valuable and trusted resource for information and most familiar with your health concerns; do not hesitate to reach out to them for guidance.

I am healthy with a functioning immune system. Why do I need a flu shot?

You may be in good health and with a functioning immune system, but still contract the flu, and suffer the health effects if you do get it. The people around you may not have good immune protection: getting a flu vaccination reduces the chance that you will get the flu and pass it to your elderly parents, newborns, relatives or friends or people you come in contact with.

Another point to consider: your immune system is best-equipped to fight viruses it “recognizes” – the strains of flu virus circulating the planet mutate and change every year. The flu vaccines are formulated to protect you from what immunologists believe will be the most common strains going around.

Could I get COVID and the flu at the same time?

It is possible, since they are different viruses.

I've taken the COVID vaccine. Do I need a flu shot too?

Yes. These are different illnesses. Taking a flu vaccine makes you less likely to contract the flu; taking a COVID vaccine makes you less likely to contract COVID.

Is there still a chance I can get the flu, or COVID, after getting the vaccine?

Yes. Neither vaccine can eliminate your chance of getting ill 100 percent. But by giving your immune system a “head start” on recognizing the virus it needs to fight, each vaccine reduces the severity of illness if you do contract the virus.

I don’t have the COVID vaccine, but am thinking about it. Can I get both? And do I need to get them at different times?

Yes, you can get the flu vaccine and COVID vaccine at the same time.

Will the flu shot make the COVID vaccine less effective, or vice versa?

No, the vaccines do not work in conflict with each other. If you are vaccinated against both viruses, you are protected against two different, but potentially life-threatening, health threats.

What is in the flu shot?

There are different formulations available. Most flu vaccines included inactivated (dead) virus. The CDC web site explains this in detail. Here's what's NOT in the flu vaccine: mercury, thimerosal or microchips of any kind!

What are the risks for taking the flu shot?

With any vaccine, there is a very small chance of an allergic reaction. Some people will feel muscle aches, fatigue, and occasionally run a fever. These are temporary effects and indicate that your immune system is mounting a response to the (dead) virus it recognizes as a foreign substance in your body that it should protect you from.

In the past, I got the flu shot and I felt like I got the flu from it. I was tired and achy. Why try it again?

You cannot get the flu from an inactivated virus. More likely, your immune system was reacting to the virus structure it recognized as an infection it needed to fight.

The flu vaccine doesn’t always prevent you from contracting the flu, but it can lessen the severity of the illness. As with the COVID vaccine, some breakthrough infections can occur – but the vaccination lessens the symptoms and can prevent severe illness that requires hospitalization, and can sometimes be fatal. Each year, people who are weakened from flu get bacterial pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening complication.

If I'm pregnant, when is it best to get the flu shot? Which trimester?

Get the flu shot at any time in your pregnancy.

What about allergies? I am allergic to eggs – is there a flu vaccine I can take?

There is a flu vaccine that does not contain egg, for those who have this allergy.

I have an autoimmune disease. Should I avoid the flu shot?

No, but you should avoid the "live" (inhaled) form of flu innoculation. If in doubt, consult your doctor.