Importance of Flu Vaccination

The flu season is approaching, and it’s essential to get vaccinated to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and major medical societies, everyone aged 6 months and older should get a yearly flu vaccination.

Who Needs a Flu Vaccination?

Just about everyone aged 6 months and older needs a flu vaccination. However, certain groups are more vulnerable to the flu and its complications, including:

• People 65 and older
• Pregnant women
• Young children
• People with chronic health problems, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and weak immune systems

Flu Vaccination Benefits

Flu vaccines may not prevent all infections, but they can help prevent severe illness and hospitalization. Tens of thousands of Americans die from the flu every winter, and last year’s harsh season saw 280 children die from flu-related complications. Nearly half of these children had no prior health problems, and about 90% hadn’t been fully vaccinated.

Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy

It’s crucial for mothers-to-be to get vaccinated against the flu, as a bad case of flu can lead to hospitalization or premature birth. Flu shot protection also carries over to newborns, and infants too young for their own vaccinations are especially vulnerable to the flu. Years of flu vaccinations have shown that the recommendation is safe for both mother and baby.

Choosing the Right Flu Vaccine

There are different types of flu vaccines available, including:

• High-dose shots and those with a special immune booster, designed for people 65 and older
• Regular all-ages flu shots
• Nasal spray FluMist, available for ages 2 to 49

At-Home Flu Vaccination

FluMist has been available for over 20 years, but a new at-home option is now available for certain adults. This option allows eligible individuals to receive FluMist at home, with instructions on how to administer it to themselves or their children. The at-home option is currently available in 34 states, and the manufacturer, AstraZeneca, hopes to expand access.

Flu Vaccination Costs

Flu vaccines are supposed to be free under Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans if you use an in-network provider. Local health departments also provide free or low-cost flu vaccinations for those who qualify. The at-home FluMist option has the same insurance rules, but there will be an out-of-pocket delivery fee.

COVID-19 Vaccination and Flu Vaccination

Yes, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as a flu vaccine. They are safe to give together, and it’s a good way to get them taken care of. However, there may be difficulty in finding COVID-19 shots, especially through government-funded child vaccination programs, due to recent changes in recommendations.

Conclusion

Getting a flu vaccination is essential to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu. With various types of flu vaccines available, including at-home options, there’s no excuse not to get vaccinated. Remember, flu vaccines may not prevent all infections, but they can help prevent severe illness and hospitalization.

FAQs

• Q: Who needs a flu vaccination?
  A: Everyone aged 6 months and older needs a flu vaccination, especially vulnerable groups such as people 65 and older, pregnant women, young children, and those with chronic health problems.
• Q: What are the benefits of flu vaccination?
  A: Flu vaccines can help prevent severe illness and hospitalization, and may even save lives.
• Q: Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as a flu vaccine?
  A: Yes, it is safe to get both vaccines at the same time.
• Q: How much does a flu vaccine cost?
  A: Flu vaccines are supposed to be free under Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans if you use an in-network provider. There may be an out-of-pocket delivery fee for the at-home FluMist option.

  By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer

  WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s time to get a flu vaccine, and pediatricians are urging people to get them after last winter, when the U.S. saw the most flu-related child deaths in 15 years.

  October is the ideal month to get protected, experts say, because flu cases typically begin climbing in November.

  “The best time is today. If you haven’t already had it, get it. I got mine yesterday,” said Dr. Laura Riley, of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

  Don’t like shots? This year marks the first time that some people can try vaccinating themselves at home using the nasal spray vaccine FluMist.

  Here’s what to know.

  Who needs a yearly flu vaccination?

  Just about everyone age 6 months and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and major medical societies. Despite lots of recent misinformation and confusion about vaccines, the flu recommendations haven’t changed.

  Flu is particularly dangerous for people 65 and older, pregnant women, young children, and people of any age who have chronic health problems including asthma, diabetes, heart disease and weak immune systems.

  About 71% of seniors roll up their sleeves every year, but less than 50% of other adults do. Last year, just under half of children got a flu vaccine, down from over 60% a few years ago.

  Flu vaccines can keep you out of the hospital

  Flu vaccines may not block all infections, but they do a really good job of preventing severe illness and hospitalization, said Dr. Sean O’Leary, of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

  Tens of thousands of Americans die from the flu every winter. But during last year’s harsh season, the CDC counted 280 children who died of flu-related complications. Nearly half had no prior health problems and about 90% hadn’t been fully vaccinated.

  Another concern from last season: The CDC counted more than 100 children who developed a rare flu complication — brain inflammation that can lead to seizures, hallucinations, or even death. Very few were vaccinated.

  Flu vaccination during pregnancy is two-for-one protection

  It’s essential for mothers-to-be to understand that a bad case of flu can put them in the hospital or cause their baby to be born prematurely, Riley said.

  Flu shot protection also carries over to newborns, and infants too young for their own vaccinations are especially vulnerable to flu.

  Riley stressed that years of flu vaccinations show that recommendation is safe for mother and baby.

  Which flu vaccine to choose?

  High-dose shots and those with a special immune booster are designed for people 65 and older, but if they can’t find one easily they can choose a regular all-ages flu shot.

  For the shot-averse, the nasal spray FluMist is available for ages 2 to 49.

  What’s that new at-home vaccination?

  FluMist has been available for more than 20 years, but the at-home option is newly available for certain adults on the vaccine’s website. If they’re deemed eligible according to their age and a medical questionnaire, they’ll be shipped FluMist timed to arrive on a particular day, with instructions on how to administer it to themselves or their children.

  The Food and Drug Administration approved the home administration option last year, too late to roll out for that season. It’s currently only available in 34 states, according to manufacturer AstraZeneca, which hopes to expand access.

  What do flu vaccines cost?

  They’re supposed to be free under Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans if people use an in-network provider. Local health departments also can provide free or low-cost flu vaccinations for people who qualify.

  As for the at-home FluMist option, the same insurance rules are supposed to apply, but there will be an out-of-pocket delivery fee.

  Can you get a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time?

  Yes, said Dr. Philip Huang, director of Dallas Health and Human Services. They’re safe to give together and “that’s a good way to get them taken care of,” he said.

  However, there still may be difficulty in finding COVID-19 shots — especially through a government-funded child vaccination program — given confusion after a federal advisory board quit recommending them but said people could decide for themselves.

  The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

  Originally Published: October 1, 2025 at 4:39 PM EDT