Top 10 Facts for the 2025-2026 Flu Season

It’s that time of year again and you may be wondering about whether you should get the flu shot. Getting a flu shot is a personal decision and should be discussed with your doctor or healthcare provider. 

Here are 10 facts about the flu:

1. The flu vaccine can lessen the severity of illness in the very young and very old, along with those with conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and chronic respiratory illnesses. Since the flu vaccine can decrease the severity of the illness, particularly those who are medically vulnerable, the flu vaccine can lead to decreased hospitalization and mortality.
2. Antibacterial soap or gel won’t protect you any more than plain old soap and water. If you wash your hands often and well -for at least 20 seconds, you’ll get rid of germs and viruses that stick to oil on your hands. The most important things is clean your hands often, with regular soap and water, antimicrobial soap and water, or waterless alcohol based hand sanitizer.
3. Like most viruses, the flu is always mutating and flu strains change all the time. They can vary from year to year. They can even change in the middle of a flu season. That is why it is important to get the flu vaccine every year.
4. Antibiotics only help with infections caused by bacteria. The flu is caused by a virus, not bacteria. Instead of antibiotics, antiviral drugs like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) can fight the flu virus and make you feel better faster. They work best if you take them within two days of getting sick, so be sure to ask your doctor about these meds ASAP if you think you have flu symptoms.
5. Getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19. Both flu and COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk complications, hospitalization and death due to the flu and COVID.
6. Flu shot ingredients are safe and even people with egg allergies can receive flu vaccines.
7. While it's true that the flu shot cannot offer 100% protection against the flu, it does reduce your risk of getting more serious disease from it. Many people mistake symptoms from colds and other illnesses for the flu.
8. The stomach flu refers to a variety of gastrointestinal illnesses unrelated to influenza.
9. The most common side effects of the flu shot are mild, such as headache, fatigue, cough, low fever and arm soreness lasting a couple of days. Fewer than 1 in a million people experience severe allergic reactions. It’s possible to get sick with the flu even if you have been vaccinated, although you won’t know for sure unless you get a flu test. This is possible for the following reasons:  You may be exposed to a flu virus shortly before getting vaccinated or during the period that it takes the body to gain protection after getting vaccinated. This exposure may result in you becoming ill with the flu before the vaccine begins to protect you. About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection develop in the body. You may be exposed to a flu virus that is not included in the seasonal flu vaccine. There are many different flu viruses that circulate every year. The flu vaccine is made to protect against the three or four flu viruses that research suggests will be most common.
10. Getting the flu shot any time during flu season will reduce your risk of getting the flu. Getting a flu shot is a personal decision and should be discussed with your doctor or healthcare provider. Please discuss any health questions or concerns you may have with a medical professional.