Flu-Related Questions & Answers by Topic

• What is seasonal influenza (flu)?
• How does CDC monitor the progress of flu season?
• Can I get vaccinated and still get flu?
• Are there new recommendations for the 2022-2023 influenza season?
• What is meant by a “good match” between viruses in the vaccine and circulating flu viruses?
• How much flu vaccine is projected to be available for the 2022-2023 flu season?

Additional Resources:

• Seasonal flu-associated hospitalizations and deaths in the United States
• Past flu seasons

• What are the benefits of flu vaccination?
• Can flu vaccine give me flu?
• What kinds of flu vaccines are available?
• Who should get vaccinated this season?
• Who should not be vaccinated against seasonal flu?
• Why should I get my child vaccinated?
• When should I get vaccinated?
• Where can I get a flu vaccine?
• How effective are flu vaccines?
• Are flu vaccines equally effective for everyone?
• Besides vaccination, how can people protect themselves against flu?

Additional Resources:

• Key facts about influenza (flu)
• Vaccine effectiveness – how well do flu vaccines work?
• Improving flu vaccines

• Are any of the available flu vaccines recommended over the others?
• What is live attenuated influenza vaccine [LAIV] (the nasal spray flu vaccine)?
• What is quadrivalent vaccine?
• Why is a higher-dose flu vaccine available for adults 65 and older?
• What are cell-based flu vaccines?
• What are recombinant flu vaccines?
• What is a jet injector and how is it used for vaccination?
• What are flu vaccines with adjuvant?

Additional Resources:

• Different types of flu vaccines
• Seasonal flu shot

• Are seasonal flu vaccines safe?
• Do flu vaccines cause any side effects?
• Is it safe for pregnant women to get a seasonal flu shot?
• Is there an increased risk for febrile seizures after a child receives a flu shot?
• What is being done to improve flu vaccines?
• What is CDC currently doing to support the development of a universal flu vaccine?
• What is Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)?

Additional Resources:

• Thimerosal and seasonal flu vaccines
• Seasonal influenza vaccine supply and distribution in the United States

• What should I do if I get sick?
• How do I know if I have flu?
• What are the emergency warning signs of flu sickness?
• What is the difference between a cold and flu?
• What are flu antiviral drugs?
• What are the benefits of antiviral drugs?
• What is antiviral resistance?

Additional Resources:

• Opening and mixing oseltamivir capsules with liquids if child cannot swallow capsules

• What is the difference between flu and COVID-19?
• Do other respiratory viruses circulate during flu season?
• Should people with HIV/AIDS receive the inactivated influenza vaccine (flu shot)?
• Should cancer patients and survivors get a flu shot?

Additional Resources:

• Flu and people with diabetes
• Flu and heart disease & stroke

• Why should health care workers get vaccinated?
• How many health care workers got vaccinated last season?
• What is CDC’s position on mandating flu vaccination for health care workers?
• Does CDC offer information for vaccine dosage and administration for health care workers?

Swine Flu/Variant Flu

• How does swine flu spread among pigs?
• What is a variant influenza virus?
• How can a person catch a flu virus from a pig?

Avian Flu

• How do people get infected with bird flu viruses?
• Why does CDC conduct research on bird flu viruses?
• What is “dual use research of concern (DURC)”?
• What is “gain of function (GOF)” bird flu research?

Other Flu Viruses

• What is bat influenza (flu)?

Additional Resources:

• H5N1 genetic changes inventory
• Influenza risk assessment tool (IRAT)