Flu can cause mild to severe illness.
Find out the risk factors and how to keep yourself from getting sick.
Flu Shot Facts
What is the flu?
The flu (influenza), is a highly contagious viral infection of the nose, throat and lungs.
How do you get the flu?
The flu spreads easily when infected people talk, cough or sneeze or by touching an object with the flu virus on it, like a doorknob. It can be spread to others from the first day of symptoms to five to seven days after they get sick. This can be longer for children.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
Common symptoms include fever (101ºF‑102ºF), muscle/body aches, chills, tiredness, sudden onset, cough and/or sore throat and runny or stuffy nose.
What are other serious complications?
The flu can cause serious health complications such as pneumonia (lung infection), dehydration (loss of body fluids) and worsening of long‑term medical conditions like asthma and diabetes.
Who is at risk?
The flu is especially dangerous for young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with long‑term medical conditions like asthma and diabetes.
Can the flu be prevented?
Yes. The best way to prevent flu is to get a flu vaccine every year and wash your hands frequently. Babies should have two doses of flu vaccine by their 2nd birthday, starting at 6 months.
Is the flu vaccine safe?
Yes. Flu vaccines have a good safety record. They’ve been used in the U.S. for more than 50 years. Millions of Americans have safely received seasonal flu vaccines.
Can you get the flu from the vaccine?
No. Flu vaccines do not cause the flu. They protect your child from flu illness. Flu shots can sometimes cause mild side effects that may be mistaken for flu. It takes about two weeks after getting the shot for you or your child to build protection against the flu.
To learn more about flu vaccines, talk to your child’s doctor or call the American Academy of Pediatrics at 1-800-433-9016, TTY 711. For more in‑depth information about flu, visit AAP.org, familiesfightingflu.org or nfid.org.