On August 6, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated Influenza (flu) vaccine recommendations for the 2025-26 fall and winter respiratory illness season. Communicating About the Updated Influenza (Flu) Vaccine references guidance from the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as expert sources on COVID-19 vaccinations.
Flu Topline Messages
Who should get an updated flu vaccine?
Everyone ages 6 months and older should get an updated flu shot, ideally in September or October, to protect against severe flu infection.
- Children between the ages of 6 months and 8 years should get two doses of the flu vaccine if this is their first time being vaccinated against the flu or if they have only ever received one dose. They should get the second dose four weeks after the first.
- People who live with or care for children, especially those younger than 6 months, should get a flu vaccine to help protect this high-risk group.
- People who are pregnant should get a flu vaccine to protect their babies and themselves from the flu. Pregnant people can get the flu vaccine at any time during their pregnancy, but it is best to get the vaccine early in the flu season (October through May). People who are pregnant and have a medical condition that increases their risk of flu complications should consider getting vaccinated before flu season begins.
What flu vaccines are available?
Flu vaccines developed for the 2024-25 respiratory virus season are available at pharmacies across the U.S. The FDA anticipates that an updated vaccine for the 2025-26 respiratory virus season will be available in time for the 2025-26 respiratory virus season.
When is the best time to get the flu vaccine?
September and October are the best months for most people to get vaccinated. Protection may decrease over time, and flu activity typically peaks between December and February. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that people get vaccinated by October 31, but you can get the vaccine at any time during flu season.
Is the flu vaccine safe?
Flu vaccines were developed through a rigorous scientific process over decades and have been thoroughly tested for their safety and benefits.
Though different brands use different production technologies, all flu vaccines meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety and efficacy requirements and can be used interchangeably by most people.
Some people report mild side effects after receiving their flu vaccine, such as headaches, muscle pain, fever, tiredness, and swelling at the injection site. Though side effects might occur, flu vaccines cannot cause flu illness.
Is the flu vaccine effective?
The flu is a potentially fatal, contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. On average, 26.8 million Americans become infected with the flu every year. Seasonal flu vaccine effectiveness studies show that flu vaccination, on average, reduces the risk of serious illness by 40% to 60%. Each year’s flu vaccine is based on which flu strains are most likely to be in circulation.
Vaccines activate the body’s immune response against the flu virus, which can then protect people from severe respiratory illness. Vaccination is especially important and effective in the fall and winter when respiratory diseases circulate in high volume across the country.
When administered as advised by healthcare professionals, flu vaccines can:
- Prevent flu infection.
- Reduce the severity and duration of flu symptoms and illness.
- Save the lives of adults and children.
Flu Supporting Messages
Why is it recommended to get an updated flu vaccine every year?
Some viruses, like the flu, change rapidly. These changes mean people need to update their defenses against the virus more often than they do for other viruses.
Does insurance cover the vaccine? What if someone does not have insurance?
For adults and children who HAVE insurance, the flu vaccine should be fully or mostly covered as preventative care. Insurers typically determine coverage after the CDC recommends flu vaccines for the upcoming fall respiratory virus season.
For adults and children who do NOT HAVE insurance, free or very low-cost flu vaccine options may be available, but they can be difficult to find. People should talk to a local pharmacist or their healthcare professional about their options.
How to Communicate about Flu Vaccinations
Here are some suggestions and questions to consider when communicating about the updated flu vaccines.
Understand your audience.
The more specific you can get about your audience, the more effective you can be in providing useful, relevant information. Answer the following:
- Which populations in our community have the highest or lowest flu vaccination rates? What messages and/or support do they need?
- What do I know about my community’s feelings about the flu? How have perceptions about vaccines changed in recent years and in relation to other public health issues?
- How/where can I effectively communicate the various ways my community can protect themselves and others from the flu?
Encourage people to make informed choices.
By engaging without dictating, you can build trust in your community and increase their willingness to act on your message. Consider:
- Suggesting that your community members talk to healthcare professionals.
- Gathering and sharing multiple and diverse trusted resources so people can find guidance that resonates with them.
- Balancing positive, encouraging language with realistic, scientific language to clearly communicate the potential severity of the illness and the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing it.
Showcase the scientific rigor behind flu vaccines.
In general, concerns about vaccines are often rooted in fear of the unknown and widely circulated rumors and falsehoods about the approval process for vaccines. Discuss the details of flu vaccine development to bust myths while addressing FAQs. Consider:
- Sharing resources about how flu vaccines were developed from research to distribution.
- Creating plain language and visually interesting illustrations of clinical trial reports, vaccine success, or other data that supports vaccines.
- Creating resources specifically for different age groups (e.g., older adults, college students, or parents with children of specific age groups) to explain what makes the vaccine safe.
Highlight the flu vaccine’s ability to reduce disease spread and serious illness.
Share plain language information on the safety and effectiveness of flu vaccines in comparison to flu illness. Consider:
- Communicating about how flu vaccines have kept high-risk groups safe since they became available.
- Sharing that the flu vaccine is still working for a person even if they experience the flu, as the vaccine helps to reduce the severity of the illness, the need for a medical appointment, the likelihood of hospitalization, and the risk of dying from the flu.
- Using interactive social media campaigns that educate followers about the flu vaccine’s benefits (for example: a challenge that asks followers to share why they got vaccinated using a specific hashtag).
- Highlighting personal stories of vaccines—including but not limited to flu— that have impacted your community’s health.
Read our Communicating More Effectively About Vaccines guide for additional messaging guidance on this topic. You can also read our Plain Language for Public Health Checklist and Bridging Statements Guide for more tips on sharing effective, relevant, and accessible communications.
Additional Flu Resources
For additional information about 2024-2025 flu vaccines, visit:
- Flu | The American Academy of Pediatrics
- Influenza | Infectious Diseases Society of America
- The Flu Vaccine and Pregnancy | The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Updated August 2025
