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Getting a flu shot is quick and easy — and it’s covered under your preventive care benefits at no cost.
Here are five little-known facts about flu shots.
Flu vaccines change every season. The flu shot is created based on the viruses that will be most common that season.
A flu shot offers protection from multiple viruses. All flu vaccines in the U.S. protect against four flu viruses.
Your flu immunity lessens after a year. Getting your flu shot annually offers the best protection against the virus.
Immunity is not instant. Immunity from the flu shot takes about two weeks to develop. Getting vaccinated before the flu spreads in your communities can help to protect you and your loved ones.
The vaccine cannot give you the flu. The viruses within a flu shot are inactive and not infectious, but you may experience minor side effects, such as arm soreness, headache or fever.
Flu viruses can be spread throughout the year, but it usually peaks between December and February, or flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting a flu shot every year in September or October. If you haven’t done so already, get your flu shot soon and protect yourself this flu season.
In addition, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf says, "As we head into fall and begin to spend more time indoors, we strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to consider receiving a booster dose with a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants."
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