Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWho Should Not Get a Flu Shot?Flu Shot ContraindicationsShould I Get a Flu Shot If I Have a Medical Condition?Choosing to Opt OutStaying HealthySummaryFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Who Should Not Get a Flu Shot?
Flu Shot Contraindications
Should I Get a Flu Shot If I Have a Medical Condition?
Choosing to Opt Out
Staying Healthy
Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that pretty much everyoneget a flu shot. However, there are certain groups of people for which the flu shot is not advised or who need to go over the pros and cons of a flu vaccine with their healthcare providers first. For these people, the vaccine may pose significant risks and even be life-threatening.
Given the fact that the flu shot is the most effective method of preventing infection, it’s important to know if you truly fall into a group of people who should not get a flu vaccine. If you don’t, commit to getting your flu shot each year for your own protection and to protect the people around you.
This article will explain who should not get a flu shot. You will also learn what you can do to stay safe during flu season if you cannot get an influenza vaccine.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
The following individuals should not get a flu shot:
Can You Be Allergic to Flu Shots?
If you have any of the following conditions or circumstances, you might wonder if they are reasons not to get a flu shot. You should discuss the pros and cons of getting a flu vaccine with your healthcare provider if you have:
The CDC no longer recommends additional precautions for people with egg allergies, but there are two flu vaccines available made without eggs (Flucelvax and Flublok).
Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you are feeling ill at the time of your flu shot appointment and what symptoms you have. Postponing your vaccination may be advised.
The flu vaccine is considered safe for pretty much everyone else, but if you have concerns or questions, discuss them with your healthcare provider.
Flu Shots and Immunosuppressants
There is a risk of flu complications, albeit small and mainly in those who are severely immunocompromised. People on immunosuppressants can instead get flu shots that are made withinactivated (dead) viruses.
Can You Get the Flu From the Flu Shot?
You might wonder if you should not get a flu vaccine if you have a chronic health condition or are otherwise concerned about your overall health.
Unless you fit into the above categories for which flu vaccination is/may be contraindicated, you might be one of the people who need the flu shot the most.
If you are in a high-risk group, getting the seasonal flu vaccine is actually very important as you may be at a higher risk of having severe complications from a bout of influenza.
People who are considered high risk include:
High-Risk Groups for Flu Complications
Getting a Flu Shot to Protect Others
While some people are medically advised not to get a flu shot, others choose not to get one for personal reasons such as a fear of needles orunfounded concerns over ingredients like thimerosal. Some people do not get a flu shot because they believe that “they never get sick” or are healthy enough to quickly bounce back if they do get the flu.
It is true that flu vaccines do not provide 100% protection from the flu for everyone that gets one. The flu vaccine is 40% to 60% effective in most years.Still, despite their relatively low prevention rate, they are still the best option to protect yourself from the flu.
Flu Vaccine EffectivenessThe annual flu vaccine’s effectiveness varies from flu season to flu season. As an example, the flu vaccine for the 2014-2015 flu season was much less effective than the vaccine from previous and later flu seasons.According to the CDC, data from the 2021-2022 season showed that the vaccine was about 35% effective at preventing people from getting a mild-to-moderate case of influenza.For comparison, the 2019-2020 flu vaccine was about 39% effective (due to unusually low flu virus circulation during the 2020-2021 season, effectiveness of the vaccine was not estimated).
Flu Vaccine Effectiveness
The annual flu vaccine’s effectiveness varies from flu season to flu season. As an example, the flu vaccine for the 2014-2015 flu season was much less effective than the vaccine from previous and later flu seasons.According to the CDC, data from the 2021-2022 season showed that the vaccine was about 35% effective at preventing people from getting a mild-to-moderate case of influenza.For comparison, the 2019-2020 flu vaccine was about 39% effective (due to unusually low flu virus circulation during the 2020-2021 season, effectiveness of the vaccine was not estimated).
The annual flu vaccine’s effectiveness varies from flu season to flu season. As an example, the flu vaccine for the 2014-2015 flu season was much less effective than the vaccine from previous and later flu seasons.
According to the CDC, data from the 2021-2022 season showed that the vaccine was about 35% effective at preventing people from getting a mild-to-moderate case of influenza.
For comparison, the 2019-2020 flu vaccine was about 39% effective (due to unusually low flu virus circulation during the 2020-2021 season, effectiveness of the vaccine was not estimated).
Remember that getting the flu vaccine also helps protect those around you, which is especially important for individuals at high risk of complications and for whom a flu shot is contraindicated.
Getting the flu vaccine is not just for your own benefit, but for the protection of people, like the caregivers of infants, adults over age 65, cancer patients, or anyone else in a high-risk group.
Those who work in big-group settings (schools, daycare centers, nursing homes, hospitals, etc.) should also be sure to get vaccinated against the flu.
How Flu Shots Work
What to Do During Flu Season if You Can’t Get Vaccinated
If you are unable to get a flu shot (and even if you are), doubling down on other prevention strategies that can go a long way in helping you stay well during flu season:
If you do have symptoms of influenza, tell your healthcare provider right away—especially if you are at high risk for complications from the flu or you live with someone who is.Antiviral medicationscan be prescribed to reduce the severity of your symptoms and the duration of your illness, as well as reduce the chance that you pass it to someone else.
What Are the Symptoms of the Flu?
Getting a yearly flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from influenza. That said, there are some people who should not get a flu shot. If you are not able to get an influenza vaccine (for example, because you have a medical condition that makes getting vaccinated contraindicated) there are other steps you can take to stay safe during flu season.
Which Vaccines Are Mandatory?
Babies younger than six months old, people who have had a life-threatening reaction to a flu shot in the past, and people who are currently very sick with a high fever should not get a flu shot.People who are currently feeling sick and people with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) after getting a vaccine may not be able to get certain flu vaccines.
Babies younger than six months old, people who have had a life-threatening reaction to a flu shot in the past, and people who are currently very sick with a high fever should not get a flu shot.
People who are currently feeling sick and people with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) after getting a vaccine may not be able to get certain flu vaccines.
If you are not sure if you should get a flu shot while pregnant, talk to your provider.
What to Know About Getting a Flu Shot During Pregnancy
11 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Who Should and Who Should NOT Get a Flu Vaccine.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Live attenuated influenza vaccine [LAIV] (the nasal spray flu vaccine).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People 65 Years and Older and Influenza.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Children and Influenza (Flu).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu and People With Asthma.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu and Heart Disease and Stroke.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pregnant Women and Influenza.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cancer and Flu.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).CDC Seasonal Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Studies.Liu M, Ou J, Zhang L, et al.Protective Effect of Hand-Washing and Good Hygienic Habits Against Seasonal Influenza: A Case-Control Study.Medicine. 2016;95(11):e3046. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000003046Principi N, Camilloni B, Alunno A, Polinori I, Argentiero A, Esposito S.Drugs for Influenza Treatment: Is There Significant News?Front Med. 2019;6:109. doi:10.3389/fmed.2019.00109Additional ReadingGrohskopf LA, Blanton LH, Ferdinands JM, et al.Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - United States, 2022-23 Influenza Season.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2022;71(1):1-28. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7101a1
11 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Who Should and Who Should NOT Get a Flu Vaccine.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Live attenuated influenza vaccine [LAIV] (the nasal spray flu vaccine).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People 65 Years and Older and Influenza.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Children and Influenza (Flu).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu and People With Asthma.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu and Heart Disease and Stroke.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pregnant Women and Influenza.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cancer and Flu.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).CDC Seasonal Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Studies.Liu M, Ou J, Zhang L, et al.Protective Effect of Hand-Washing and Good Hygienic Habits Against Seasonal Influenza: A Case-Control Study.Medicine. 2016;95(11):e3046. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000003046Principi N, Camilloni B, Alunno A, Polinori I, Argentiero A, Esposito S.Drugs for Influenza Treatment: Is There Significant News?Front Med. 2019;6:109. doi:10.3389/fmed.2019.00109Additional ReadingGrohskopf LA, Blanton LH, Ferdinands JM, et al.Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - United States, 2022-23 Influenza Season.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2022;71(1):1-28. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7101a1
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.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Who Should and Who Should NOT Get a Flu Vaccine.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Live attenuated influenza vaccine [LAIV] (the nasal spray flu vaccine).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People 65 Years and Older and Influenza.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Children and Influenza (Flu).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu and People With Asthma.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu and Heart Disease and Stroke.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pregnant Women and Influenza.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cancer and Flu.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).CDC Seasonal Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Studies.Liu M, Ou J, Zhang L, et al.Protective Effect of Hand-Washing and Good Hygienic Habits Against Seasonal Influenza: A Case-Control Study.Medicine. 2016;95(11):e3046. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000003046Principi N, Camilloni B, Alunno A, Polinori I, Argentiero A, Esposito S.Drugs for Influenza Treatment: Is There Significant News?Front Med. 2019;6:109. doi:10.3389/fmed.2019.00109
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Who Should and Who Should NOT Get a Flu Vaccine.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Live attenuated influenza vaccine [LAIV] (the nasal spray flu vaccine).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People 65 Years and Older and Influenza.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Children and Influenza (Flu).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu and People With Asthma.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu and Heart Disease and Stroke.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pregnant Women and Influenza.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cancer and Flu.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).CDC Seasonal Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Studies.
Liu M, Ou J, Zhang L, et al.Protective Effect of Hand-Washing and Good Hygienic Habits Against Seasonal Influenza: A Case-Control Study.Medicine. 2016;95(11):e3046. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000003046
Principi N, Camilloni B, Alunno A, Polinori I, Argentiero A, Esposito S.Drugs for Influenza Treatment: Is There Significant News?Front Med. 2019;6:109. doi:10.3389/fmed.2019.00109
Grohskopf LA, Blanton LH, Ferdinands JM, et al.Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - United States, 2022-23 Influenza Season.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2022;71(1):1-28. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7101a1
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