The flu is an infection that can cause fever, cough, body aches, and other symptoms.

Getting a flu shot now can help you avoid the flu. The flu vaccine can also help keep you from becoming severely ill if you do get the flu.

You cannot get the flu from a flu vaccine: in fact, getting the vaccine every year is your best protection against the flu. A flu vaccine contains pieces of dead flu viruses that help your body arm itself against the actual flu. Some people have mild symptoms for a day or two after getting the flu shot, but the real flu is much worse. If you have not been vaccinated for this flu season, get the shot as soon as possible.

If you are already sick with the flu, stay home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids. Don’t go back to work or school until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without medicine.

This year, continue to protect yourself from both coronavirus (COVID-19) and the flu. COVID-19 and the flu have similar symptoms, but are caused by different viruses.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the flu

Getting the flu vaccine this year will be more important than ever. There will be plenty of flu vaccines available. If you don’t catch the flu, you can’t get very sick from flu complications — and you can’t spread it to anyone else. The more people who get the vaccine, the better everyone is protected, especially those who can’t get the vaccine (including babies under 6 months and people allergic to the vaccine).

The flu vaccine will not protect you against COVID-19, but it can protect you from getting the flu and against major flu complications. That immune system protection is critical, especially if you do contract COVID-19. To protect yourself and others, continue to stay 6 feet away from others, wear a mask in public, and wash your hands often. Learn more about COVID-19 and the flu.