Influenza (Flu)

Overview

  • Influenza is a serious disease caused by a virus. Influenza can make you feel miserable! Fever, cough, shaking chills, body aches, and extreme weakness are common symptoms.
  • You can catch influenza from people who cough, sneeze, or even just talk around you. It is very contagious.
  • Tragically, every year infants, children, teens, and adults die from influenza. Influenza is very unpredictable. No one knows how deadly influenza will be each year. Even if you have a mild case of influenza, you can still pass the virus on to your friends, family, and coworkers who could get very sick or even die.
  • Influenza is most dangerous for people with health conditions like heart and lung disease, the very young and very old, and during pregnancy. But anyone can become seriously sick from influenza—even young, healthy people.
  • Vaccination is the most effective step you can take to be protected from this serious disease.

Influenza Vaccine Schedule

Influenza Vaccine Schedule

Every person, beginning at age 6 months and continuing throughout their lifetime, should receive an annual vaccination against influenza.

RESOURCES

Influenza: Questions and Answers

Facts and Q&As about the influenza disease and vaccine, from Immunize.org.

Not Sure If You Can Get an Influenza Vaccine?

This fact sheet addresses common misunderstandings people give for not getting vaccinated against influenza, from Immunize.org.

Don’t Take Chances with Your Family’s Health—Make Sure You All Get Vaccinated

Basic information about the importance of influenza vaccination of the whole family, from Immunize.org.

Partner Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Influenza (Flu)

Find fact sheets, resources, multimedia, and more for parents and children from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Vaccines for Your Children: Vaccine for Flu (Influenza)

A yearly flu vaccine is the best way to protect your child from flu and its potentially serious complications. Learn more about the flu and vaccines from CDC. A Spanish-language version is also available.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Vaccines.gov

Up-to-date information about vaccination services in your area is brought to you by the Department of Health & Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Boston Children’s Hospital. Note: As of December 2023, the site is offering location information only for COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
A Look at Each Vaccine: Influenza Vaccine

Questions and answers about influenza and vaccines from the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Influenza: What You Should Know

An influenza fact sheet and Q&A from the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. A Spanish-language version is also available.

Families Fighting Flu, Inc.
Families Fighting Flu

Families Fighting Flu educates about the seriousness of influenza and the importance of annual vaccination so that no one suffers serious flu complications or death.

PERSONAL TESTIMONIES

Amanda Kanowitz

The doctor said to keep her hydrated. But all children are not alike, some, like Amanda, are at risk for extreme reactions to the flu and other diseases.

Read more.

Emily Lastinger

The parents of Emily Lastinger recount the devastating loss of their young daughter to influenza.

Read more.

Martin McGowan

Diane and Mike McGowan’s healthy 15-year-old son, Martin, died from influenza-related complications in 2005. “One flu shot could have saved his life,” said Diane. “As his mother, I wish that he had been vaccinated.”

Read more.
View All Testimonies
INFLUENZA PHOTOS

Warning: Some of the images are graphic.

View All Influenza Photos