Yes, flu shots are closely monitored by the FDA and CDC each year to ensure they are safe.

Hundreds of millions of Americans have safely received flu immunizations for more than 50 years, and there has been extensive research supporting the safety of flu immunizations.

Flu immunizations are safe and effective, reducing the risk of needing to go to the doctor by 40 – 60 percent. If you do get the flu, having the immunization can make your illness less severe.

Flu shots cannot give you the flu, although some people may have mild side effects.

Flu shots can cause side effects for some people. These side effects are usually mild and go away on their own in a short time. These can include soreness or redness where the shot was given, a headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. The flu itself is usually much worse than side effects the immunization can cause.

Your body’s immunity to the influenza virus decreases over time, which is why most health experts recommend getting a flu shot before the end of October.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health experts recommend that everyone age six months and older get immunized against the flu each year.

Yes, you can get both shots at the same time. There is no required or recommended waiting period between receiving the flu and COVID-19 shots.

Yes. Influenza is more likely to cause illness that results in hospitalization in pregnant people compared to people who are not pregnant, and influenza also may be harmful for a developing baby. A flu shot helps protect both the mother and the baby from contracting the flu.

Yes. Flu shots are safe and effective for young children, and children under five have a higher risk of developing flu-related complications including pneumonia, dehydration, and brain dysfunctions.

Because the virus that causes COVID-19 has changed over time, updated boosters are needed to provide the best protection against the dominant variants of COVID-19 that are circulating.

COVID-19 immunizations were developed using science that has been around for decades.

COVID-19 shots are safe and meet the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality.

Yes, 2023 studies show that the vaccine is 76 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 from causing a patient to be placed on a ventilator and death up to six months after the last dose.

The COVID-19 immunization cannot give you COVID, although some people may have mild side effects.

While some people have no side effects, many people have reported mild to moderate side effects—such as headache, fatigue, and soreness at the injection site—that generally go away within a few days.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health experts recommend that everyone age six months and older get an updated COVID-19 immunization for the upcoming fall and winter. Immunization is particularly important for some people who are more likely to get seriously ill with COVID-19, such as young children, older adults, and people with certain chronic medical conditions.

Yes, you can get both shots at the same time. There is no required or recommended waiting period between receiving the flu and COVID-19 shots.

Yes. Pregnant people are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 compared to people who are not pregnant. COVID-19 immunizations remain safe and effective when received during pregnancy.

Yes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and many top health experts recommend immunization for children over the age of six months.

Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover the cost of COVID-19 booster shots.