Flu vaccine, prevention and treatment
Get your flu vaccine, learn how to protect yourself and find care if you have symptoms.
Flu vaccine, prevention and treatment
Get your flu vaccine, learn how to protect yourself and find care if you have symptoms.
Who should get a flu vaccine?
Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each year, with rare exceptions.
Pregnant? A flu vaccine is recommended during pregnancy and can be given during any trimester.
Children 6 months to 8 years old may need two doses. Ask your child’s healthcare team how many doses your child will need.
When to get a flu vaccine?
September and October are generally good times to get your flu vaccine. Ideally, get vaccinated by the end of October.
If you haven’t gotten your flu vaccine by then, it’s still worth getting vaccinated while flu viruses are circulating.
It takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to build protection against flu.
Why get a flu vaccine
Flu vaccines can lower your risk of getting sick with flu. When the vaccine is a good match for the flu viruses circulating that season, vaccination can reduce the risk of needing medical care for flu by 40% to 60%.
If you do get flu, being vaccinated can also reduce your risk of serious illness and complications. That can mean fewer sick days and more time for work, school, family and the things you enjoy.
Already vaccinated?
If you received your flu vaccine outside UW Medicine, mark it complete on the Preventive Care page in MyChart to help keep your health record up to date.
More information about seasonal flu
What is the flu?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms often start suddenly.
Flu viruses change each year, so flu vaccines are updated every year to protect against new strains.
How can I prevent getting or spreading the flu?
The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot every year. You can also lower your chances of getting the flu or spreading the flu by:
- Staying home when sick and staying away from people who are sick.
- Wearing a mask.
- Washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Not touching your face — especially your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Cleaning surfaces and things people touch a lot.
- Covering your coughs and sneezes.
What are common flu symptoms?
The flu typically comes on suddenly and can range from mild to severe. Common flu symptoms include:
- Fever or chills – not everyone with the flu has a fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Feeling tired
- Vomiting – more common in children
- Diarrhea – more common in children
How is the flu diagnosed?
A health care provider can often diagnose the flu based on your symptoms. In some cases, they may test for flu by swabbing your nose.
How is the flu treated?
Most people with flu recover at home with rest, fluids and over-the-counter medicine to help relieve symptoms. Some people may need prescription antiviral medicine.
Antiviral medicine works best when started within two days after symptoms begin.
What should I do if I get sick?
If you have the flu, rest, drink plenty of fluids and take any medicine your health care provider prescribes or recommends. Stay home and avoid close contact with others while you're sick.
You can return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
- Your symptoms are getting better.
- You haven’t had a fever without taking medicine to lower it.
What are complications of the flu?
Complications of the flu include infections, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, the worsening of chronic health conditions and dehydration.