The best time to get vaccinated against the flu every year is in September and October. But if you have not yet received your flu vaccine – it’s not too late to get it!
If flu is circulating, you should get vaccinated.
Protect Yourself and Others
Flu vaccination can:
- Prevent flu illness
- Reduce the severity of flu illness
- Protect people at high risk from flu-related complications
During 2024-2025 in the United States, flu vaccination prevented an estimated:
- 9.4 –16 million flu illnesses
- 4.4 – 7.1 million flu-associated medical visits
- 170,000 – 360,000 flu-associated hospitalizations
- 12,000 – 39,000 flu-associated deaths
Who Should Get Vaccinated
Everyone aged 6 months and older (with few exceptions) should get an annual flu vaccine.
The flu vaccine is particularly important for people at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes:
- People 65 years and older
- People with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease)
- Pregnant women
- Children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years
2024–25 Flu Season
During the last flu season, flu infections nationwide resulted in at least:
- 43 million symptomatic illnesses
- 19 million medical visits
- 560,000 hospitalizations
- 38,000 deaths
There were also 280 reported pediatric deaths. Except for the 2009–10 H1N1 pandemic, this was the highest number of pediatric deaths since they became nationally notifiable in 2004. Of the 280 pediatric deaths:
- 50% occurred in children and adolescents with underlying conditions
- 44% occurred among previously healthy children
Among the deaths in children aged 6 months and older with known vaccination status, nearly 90% were not fully vaccinated against flu.
Spread the Word – Not the Flu
Encourage your loved ones and community to get a flu vaccine. The more people get vaccinated – the more people will be protected.