The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. While there are many flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against those that research suggests will be most common.

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as this season's vaccines are available. Vaccination of high-risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness. People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older. Vaccination also is important for healthcare workers, and other people who live with or care for high-risk people to keep from spreading flu to high-risk people. Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for them should be vaccinated instead.