What are some other precautions that can be taken instead of receiving a flu vaccination?

Answer 1

If you can, get a vaccination. Flu vaccines made the same as those today are proven safe and effective over decades of use, and, although there is risk in most any medical treatment or medication, the risk is much lower than the risk of suffering the flu and the related complications that can come with it (including the 36,000 deaths per year in the US that are due to the flu).

If you can not get a vaccination, then see the related questions below for information on alternative ways to protect yourself.

Everyone should take the precautions outlined in the related questions even if they are getting vaccinated. The flu vaccination is effective for the 3 types (or 4 types in one vaccine**) of flu viruses that were selected by the CDC to be included this year and perhaps effective for other flu viruses that are very similar. But, there are many other possible influenza viruses that might be circulating that will not be covered by immunization from the flu vaccinations, as well as cold viruses and other infectious microbes that the precautions will protect beyond what the vaccine will.

If you are allergic to eggs, you may still be able to get the flu shot, see also below for more information on this new advice from allergists.

Also see the information about the new intradermal vaccination for the flu that uses a 90% smaller needle, if you are needle-averse and thinking of not getting a vaccination for this reason. Some people can also get intranasal mists for the vaccination.


** Starting in the 2012-2013 flu season, there is a new vaccine that contains 4 types of flu viruses instead of the traditional 3 types. It is called quadravalent (the originals are trivalent). See the related questions for more about the new vaccine and who can use it.