Flu Season Arrives: Get Vaccinated Now, Everyone Aged 6 Months and Up
The flu season is upon us, and health authorities stress the importance of vaccination for everyone aged 6 months or older. With an average of 12,000 to 51,000 deaths annually in the U.S. since 2010, getting vaccinated is crucial to prevent serious complications.
Flu vaccines are safe and have been proven effective over 50 years of research. They are updated seasonally to protect against the most common circulating virus strains and to account for waning immunity from previous vaccinations. It takes about two weeks for the protective effects to kick in, so it's important to get vaccinated before flu activity begins in your local area, ideally by October.
Even healthy individuals can experience serious complications from influenza infection. The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older due to the changing nature of influenza viruses and the fading of immune protection over time. Flu vaccines cannot cause influenza illness, but they may cause minor side effects such as muscle aches or fever.
For the 2024 influenza vaccination available from October 2023, there are key changes in eligibility. Besides risk groups with preexisting conditions and healthcare workers, people with frequent, regular, direct contact with pigs, poultry, wild birds, or seals—such as employees in animal husbandry, zoos, veterinary practices, and slaughterhouses—are now recommended annual flu vaccination with inactivated vaccines. This change responds to the worldwide rise of highly pathogenic H5Nx avian influenza viruses and increased detection in various mammals. These new recommendations from the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) have been implemented by the Gemeinsame Bundesausschuss (G-BA) starting September 2025 and apply for the 2024/2025 flu season.
With flu season in full swing, everyone should get an influenza vaccine. It's the best way to protect yourself and others from serious complications. Make sure to get vaccinated before flu activity begins in your area, and remember that flu vaccines cannot cause influenza illness. The new recommendations for 2024 include expanded eligibility, so check if you're now eligible for a free or subsidized vaccine.
