October 2025
Every year, the flu impacts millions of people. The CDC estimates that between nine million and 41 million people get the flu annually, leading to 120,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations and 6,300 to 51,000 deaths. Despite these numbers, fewer than 45% of American adults received the flu shot during the 2023-2024 season.
There are several reasons why people may choose to avoid this vaccine. Often, it’s because of myths and misconceptions about the vaccine. Let’s set the record straight by addressing some of the most common myths about the flu shot:
MYTH: The flu shot works only if you get it before November.
FACT: The CDC recommends that people get their annual flu vaccine in September or October.
It takes about two weeks for your body to develop protective antibodies after the flu shot, so getting vaccinated early in the school year, or no later than Halloween, offers the best protection. (Getting vaccinated too early risks your protection waning before the flu season is over.) However, if you miss this window, it’s still worth getting vaccinated later in the flu season. If you’re unsure when to get the shot, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
MYTH: The flu vaccine can give you the flu.
FACT: The flu shot cannot infect you with the flu.
While the flu vaccine can cause minor side effects, including headaches and muscle aches, as well as fever in approximately one to two percent of people, these symptoms are not the flu. According to the CDC, flu vaccines use either inactivated viruses or specific genes from flu strains to help your body build protective antibodies. These ingredients are not infectious and cannot cause illness.
The only flu vaccine that uses a live virus is the nasal spray, which contains a weakened version of the virus. This version cannot infect healthy people because it is weakened and it’s specially designed to survive only in the cooler environment of the nose, not in the lungs or other warmer parts of the body. However, the nasal spray is not recommended for individuals who are immunocompromised, pregnant, or 50 years of age or older. Those groups should get a traditional flu shot.
After receiving any flu vaccine, you may experience mild side effects, but they’ll go away in a day or two.
MYTH: The flu shot is only for older people and people with a compromised immune system.
FACT: The flu can affect anyone — even healthy, younger people.
While people 65+ and those with weaker immune systems are more at risk of complications from the flu, healthy younger people can still get the flu, and it can put you in bed for a week or worse. Getting vaccinated doesn’t just protect you; it also protects your friends, family, and the broader community, especially those who are more vulnerable.
MYTH: Flu vaccines can cause autism.
FACT: Absolutely false, according to science.
In the late 1990s, a controversial study suggested there was a link between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. This study has been thoroughly debunked, several times over, and studies looking at other vaccines, like the flu vaccine, have demonstrated they do not cause autism.
According to the CDC, multiple studies have shown there is no link between vaccines, or vaccine ingredients, and the development of autism. This includes the flu vaccine.
MYTH: The flu vaccine won’t really stop you from getting the flu.
FACT: The flu vaccine protects against the most common strains of the virus each year.
Each flu season, the vaccine is designed to protect against the strains of the virus that are expected to be the most widespread or dangerous. While it’s possible to catch a strain not included in the vaccine, the flu shot still provides significant benefits.
Even if you do get the flu after being vaccinated, studies show that your symptoms will likely be less severe, with lower chances of complications or hospitalization. In short, being vaccinated gives you the best defense against the flu.
