Vaccines

World Immunization Week 2024: Honoring 50 Years of the Essential Programme on Immunization

In 2024, World Immunization Week is celebrating 50 years of the WHO’s Expanded Programme on Immunization.

Learn more

Learn more

Latest Articles

Vaccines

How Effective Is the Flu Vaccine? See Early Estimates for 2023-2024

The flu shot is still the best way to prevent the flu and its complications. But how effective were flu vaccines this season?

Apr 1, 2024

Read about flu vaccine effectiveness in 2023-2024

Flu Season

The 2023-2024 Flu Season in Review: Have Flu Cases Peaked in the U.S.?

Flu cases in the U.S. are declining, but can we say the 2023-2024 flu season is wrapping up?

Mar 8, 2024

Read an update about flu activity this season

Vaccines

A Change Is Coming to Flu Vaccines: Moving From Quadrivalent to Trivalent

Current flu vaccines are quadrivalent, designed to protect against 4 viruses…but this will soon change.

Feb 13, 2024

Learn what’s changing and why

Vaccines

Is It Too Late to Get a Flu Shot?

If you haven’t gotten a flu shot earlier in the flu season, is it worth bothering to get one at all?

Jan 2, 2024

Learn about getting a flu shot in late flu season

Vaccines

The Role of Vaccines in Flu Prevention and Protection

Dec 14, 2023

Learn how vaccines help protect us from flu

Vaccines

2023 National Influenza Vaccination Week Is Here!

Getting a flu shot during National Influenza Vaccination Week can help protect you and others against the flu over the holidays and through the flu season.

Dec 4, 2023

Learn how this timing works

Vaccines

NFID Survey Results Suggests Lower Flu Vaccination Rates This Season

Data from this NFID annual survey shows who’s planning to get a flu shot this year.

Nov 6, 2023

Learn why flu vaccination rates matter

Interactive Influenza Timeline

Influenza

The History of Influenza

How influenza led to pandemics, health crises, scientific discoveries, vaccine innovations and disease prevention.

Explore a historical timeline of major influenza events

Recent Articles

Flu Season

When Should I Get a Flu Shot?

Are you up-to-date on your flu shot in 2023?

Find out why you should get a flu shot each season

Flu Season

Flu Shot Timing for the Flu Season Months

Usually flu season runs between the months of October and April, but that isn't always the case. So when is the best time for flu shots?

Learn about optimal flu shot timing

Flu Season

2023–2024 Flu Season Predictions: What Can We Expect?

Annual flu season patterns and trends have been in continual flux since 2020.

See what may be in store for the 2023-2024 flu season

Flu

Protect Your Kids From Flu in the 2023-2024 Flu Season

Kids have returned to school—and the flu is returning, too. Have you gotten your kids vaccinated against the flu yet?

Learn about the importance of flu vaccination in children during flu season

Vaccines

Updated Flu Vaccine Recommendations for 2023-2024 Flu Season

Flu vaccination recommendations are updated each year. See what's new for the 2023-2024 flu season.

Read about this year's flu season vaccination recommendations

Flu

Can You Get the Flu in the Summer?

You can still catch the flu in the summer months, thanks to a variety of factors.

Learn about the risks of flu outside of the traditional flu season

Vaccines

How Vaccine Hesitancy Affects Vaccination Rates and Public Health

The numbers of people getting annual flu vaccines have remained low, putting public health at risk. The rise in vaccine hesitancy is one reason why.

Read how and why vaccine hesitancy has grown over the years

Flu

Influenza and Flu Vaccine Myths: Separating Fact From Fiction

Misconceptions about the flu and flu vaccine myths keep people from understanding how to protect themselves from the flu.

Learn what's actually true about influenza and flu shots

Flu Burden

How Flu Creates a Burden on Society

Read about the impact of seasonal flu—and of vaccinations.

Learn about the burden of flu

Flu Science

How Flu Spreads

While getting vaccinated is the most effective way of avoiding the flu, understanding how the flu spreads is a big step towards prevention.

Read an interactive overview

Flu

Why Does Flu Affect Some People More Than Others?

Certain people may have higher risk factors for influenza complications.

Learn what can create a higher risk for flu

Woman holding child at a sink, washing hands

Flu Prevention

How Can You Prevent the Flu?

Read a few helpful tips to prevent seasonal influenza.

Learn about being prepared against the flu

Vaccines

What Kind of Flu Vaccine Is Right for You?

Depending on your age, certain vaccines may be preferentially recommended by the CDC.

Learn how recommendations on flu vaccination are different for some people

Masked female receiving a flu shot in the arm

Vaccines

Overview of Flu Vaccine Types

There are a range of choices among the vaccines available today

Get a better understanding of the different types of flu vaccines

Flu

A View of the Flu

Dr. Rachel O'Mara, private physician, describes some of the experiences her patients have had with influenza.

Watch Dr. O'Mara discuss her perspective of the flu

Flu Science

Antigenic Drift: Why Flu Viruses Change Every Year

Did you know? Influenza viruses are constantly mutating or changing. One way in which they change is referred to as antigenic drift.

Learn how flu viruses change each season

Flu

Is It Influenza?

Learn how flu symptoms compare to symptoms of other common illnesses.

Review what symptoms flu can cause