How to Prevent the Flu: What’s Possible?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPrevention After ExposureNext StepsManaging SymptomsYear-Round PreventionFlu VaccineLimit Contagiousness

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Prevention After Exposure

Next Steps

Managing Symptoms

Year-Round Prevention

Flu Vaccine

Limit Contagiousness

Between 9 million and 41 million Americans were infected with some strain of influenza (“the flu”) in the 2023–2024 flu season. Out of the more than 330 million people in the United States, these infections led to roughly 700,000 hospital stays and 51,000 deaths.

Getting a seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from the flu, and there are other health habits you can engage in to support your immune system year-round.

Can You Prevent the Flu After Exposure?

People infected withthe fluusually notice symptoms within two days of exposure. However, the severity of the illness depends on the following factors:

Once the virus enters your body, there is a chance that your immune system will destroy the virus and keep you from getting sick. It’s also possible to have an active influenza infection without symptoms.

Researchers are unclear whether the dose of a virus—or viral load—you are exposed to plays a role in how sick you might become with the flu.

Next Steps If You Feel Symptoms Coming On

Once you begin to experiencesymptoms, there’s nothing you can do to stop an influenza infection. However, if you take prescription antiviral medications designed to fightinfluenza A or B(the two most common strains) within the first two days after your symptoms start, you may be able todecrease the severityof your infection.

Antiviral medications approved to treat influenza in the United States include:

These medications will not kill the flu virus but canweaken its effects.Treating influenza with antiviral medications to avoid severe illness and complications is especially important for high-risk individuals, such as those with:

How to Keep Symptoms From Getting Worse

Antiviral medications can help prevent your flu infection from becoming too severe. But if you’ve missed the treatment window (the first two days after symptom onset), there are other ways to manage your symptoms and support your immune system.

Vitamins for Viruses?Vitamin C and zincsupplementsare popular during cold and flu season, and research shows that these vitamins and minerals are necessary for a healthy immune system. However, vitamin C and zinc deficiencies are rare in the United States, and data supporting their effect in preventing or treating infections like flu is limited.Always talk to a healthcare provider before starting any new vitamins or supplements.

Vitamins for Viruses?

Vitamin C and zincsupplementsare popular during cold and flu season, and research shows that these vitamins and minerals are necessary for a healthy immune system. However, vitamin C and zinc deficiencies are rare in the United States, and data supporting their effect in preventing or treating infections like flu is limited.Always talk to a healthcare provider before starting any new vitamins or supplements.

Vitamin C and zincsupplementsare popular during cold and flu season, and research shows that these vitamins and minerals are necessary for a healthy immune system. However, vitamin C and zinc deficiencies are rare in the United States, and data supporting their effect in preventing or treating infections like flu is limited.

Always talk to a healthcare provider before starting any new vitamins or supplements.

Year-Round Flu Prevention Reminders

Lifestyle

Supporting a healthy immune system isn’t just something you should do when you are sick. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle year-round can help strengthen your immune system and prepare it to fight infections like the flu and other viruses. In addition to the immune-boosting measures above, prioritize the following to support your immune health:

You should also ask your healthcare provider about necessary immunizations, including the seasonalflu vaccine.

Vaccinations for influenza are updated annually to target the most prevalent flu strains. You may also want to considerother vaccinesthat protect your overall health—especially if you fall into a high-risk category.

Are You Immunocompromised?Infants, young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at particular risk of contracting infectious diseases like influenza. Certain medical conditions like diabetes or medications like corticosteroids can also weaken your immune system. Talk to your healthcare provider about your medical history and the drugs you are taking. If you areimmunocompromised, you may want to take extra steps to protect yourself from the flu.

Are You Immunocompromised?

Infants, young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at particular risk of contracting infectious diseases like influenza. Certain medical conditions like diabetes or medications like corticosteroids can also weaken your immune system. Talk to your healthcare provider about your medical history and the drugs you are taking. If you areimmunocompromised, you may want to take extra steps to protect yourself from the flu.

Understanding Flu Vaccine Protection

Seasonal flu vaccines can’t guarantee you won’t become infected with influenza, but they help. According to the CDC,seasonal flu vaccineshave been between 30% and 42%effectivein preventing illness, hospitalization, and death from the flu over the last few years. The vaccine is modified yearly to target the top three or four virus strains expected to dominate the flu season.

There is no exact way to predict which flu strains will be the strongest or most prevalent from year to year, but even if the vaccine doesn’t entirely prevent infection, it can help weaken its effects so you can recover faster.

How to Prevent or Limit Flu Contagiousness

If you or someone you know has the flu, prevention and steps to limit transmission are key. Once exposed, a flu infection can take one to four days to take hold, and you are most contagious in the first three to four days after symptoms begin. However, the flu can be passed on up to a week after symptoms start.

Summary

There is no cure for the flu; even vaccines can’t prevent all infections. However, getting regular vaccinations and engaging in healthy behaviors to support a healthy immune system can help you fight the virus and avoid severe illness and complications—especially if you have a weakened immune system.

14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.United States Census Bureau.United States.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About estimated flu burden.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How the flu spreads.Centers for Disease Control and Infection.Influenza: CDC yellow book 2024.Liang Y.Pathogenicity and virulence of influenza.Virulence. 2023;14(1):2223057. doi:10.1080/21505594.2023.2223057Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treating the flu with antiviral drugs.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of influenza viruses.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Healthy habits: enhancing immunity.National Institutes of Health.Dietary supplements for immune function and infectious diseases.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What vaccines are recommended for you.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Flu vaccine guidance for patients with immune deficiency.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing seasonal flu.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC seasonal flu vaccine effectiveness studies.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.2024-2025 flu season.

14 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.United States Census Bureau.United States.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About estimated flu burden.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How the flu spreads.Centers for Disease Control and Infection.Influenza: CDC yellow book 2024.Liang Y.Pathogenicity and virulence of influenza.Virulence. 2023;14(1):2223057. doi:10.1080/21505594.2023.2223057Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treating the flu with antiviral drugs.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of influenza viruses.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Healthy habits: enhancing immunity.National Institutes of Health.Dietary supplements for immune function and infectious diseases.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What vaccines are recommended for you.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Flu vaccine guidance for patients with immune deficiency.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing seasonal flu.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC seasonal flu vaccine effectiveness studies.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.2024-2025 flu season.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

United States Census Bureau.United States.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About estimated flu burden.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How the flu spreads.Centers for Disease Control and Infection.Influenza: CDC yellow book 2024.Liang Y.Pathogenicity and virulence of influenza.Virulence. 2023;14(1):2223057. doi:10.1080/21505594.2023.2223057Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treating the flu with antiviral drugs.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of influenza viruses.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Healthy habits: enhancing immunity.National Institutes of Health.Dietary supplements for immune function and infectious diseases.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What vaccines are recommended for you.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Flu vaccine guidance for patients with immune deficiency.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing seasonal flu.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC seasonal flu vaccine effectiveness studies.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.2024-2025 flu season.

United States Census Bureau.United States.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About estimated flu burden.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How the flu spreads.

Centers for Disease Control and Infection.Influenza: CDC yellow book 2024.

Liang Y.Pathogenicity and virulence of influenza.Virulence. 2023;14(1):2223057. doi:10.1080/21505594.2023.2223057

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treating the flu with antiviral drugs.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of influenza viruses.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Healthy habits: enhancing immunity.

National Institutes of Health.Dietary supplements for immune function and infectious diseases.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What vaccines are recommended for you.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Flu vaccine guidance for patients with immune deficiency.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing seasonal flu.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC seasonal flu vaccine effectiveness studies.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.2024-2025 flu season.

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