Explore Flu Shot Benefits

Who Benefits from Getting a Flu Shot?

Getting the flu vaccine during 2020-2021 is more important than ever because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, there are many important benefits, such as:

1. Flu Vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death.
2. Getting a flu vaccine can also save healthcare resources for the care of COVID-19.

Overall, the flu shot benefits everyone who gets it and prevents millions of infections and flu-related doctor visits a year. During 2019-2020, flu vaccinations prevented an estimated 7.5  million flu illnesses, 3.7 million flu-related medical visits, 105,000 flu-related hospitalizations and 6,300 flu-related deaths.¹ The flu shot is a quick, relatively painless, and cost-effective procedure that will help you avoid flu infections in the future. Flu shot benefits include:

• Flu vaccinations can prevent you getting sick from the flu and reduce the risk of flu-related hospitalization for adults, children and older adults.
• Flu shots can greatly reduce the risk of children dying from the flu.
• Flu vaccination helps prevent flu in people with chronic health conditions, who are at a higher risk for flu-related complications.
• Getting a flu shot can protect others around you that are more vulnerable to flu-related illnesses like babies, the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic health conditions.
• Flu vaccinations can reduce the severity of the flu even if you do get it.
• Flu shots help protect pregnant women during and after pregnancy. The flu vaccination also helps protect the babies from flu for a few months after birth when they're not old enough to get any vaccinations.
• Getting a flu shot helps you protect vulnerable groups who cannot get a flu shot.¹

Where can you get a Flu Shot?

Flu vaccines are widely available in doctor's offices, schools, clinics, health departments and college medical centers. Because flu shots are so beneficial, health officials want to make them easy to access. To get your flu shot, you can reach out to your doctor or healthcare provider. Even if you don't have a regular healthcare provider, you can get a flu shot. Many workplaces provide flu shot programs through your workplace healthcare plan that come directly to your office. If you're not sure where to find a flu shot, contact a local pharmacy, health department or urgent care clinic.

Now that you know more about the benefits of the flu shot, who it helps and where to get one, make sure you get yours this year! Learn more about cold and flu symptoms, prevention, and treatment in our Theraflu Power Living center.