Healthy Living

Flu Facts vs. Fiction: Your Guide to the 2026 Flu Season

Oct. 29, 2025

Flu may seem common, but don’t let that fool you— “common” doesn’t mean harmless. Every year, thousands in the U.S. die from it and others suffer prolonged symptoms and serious respiratory complications.

So, seeking medical care, including testing and treatment, is critical—especially for young children, older adults, and those with pre-existing health conditions such as asthma, lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, or cancer.

Misinformation about the flu seems to spread faster than the illness itself. Here are some important facts to clear up some of the fiction you might have heard.

FICTION: Getting the flu shot makes you sick.

FACT: When you get the flu shot, your body mounts an immune response to the vaccine. It’s normal to experience mild side effects such as soreness or redness at the injection site, fatigue, or a low-grade fever for a day or two.

If you find yourself very sick after getting the vaccine, it is more than likely coincidental. Many other viruses are circulating at the same time of year. The truth is, the vaccine cannot give you the flu.

FICTION: The vaccine doesn’t work because some vaccinated people still get the flu.

FACT: Every year, infectious disease experts analyze flu patterns to determine which strains should be targeted with the vaccine. If you’re vaccinated and still get the flu, your symptoms are likely to be milder and your recovery faster than if you hadn’t been vaccinated. Even in a year when the vaccine has lower effectiveness, it prevents millions of illnesses, tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths.

FICTION: I’m not experiencing nausea or vomiting, so I don’t have the flu.

FACT: These are not typical symptoms of the flu. Cough, runny nose, sore throat, high fever, and significant body aches are more common. Only a flu test can confirm if you truly have the flu; however, your doctor may also diagnose it based on symptoms alone. If you do have the flu, antiviral treatment (such as Tamiflu) can be prescribed by your doctor and may help reduce the duration and severity of your illness.

Not Sure What’s Got You Down? Check Your Symptoms

FICTION: If you don’t get your flu shot before flu season starts, you’re too late.

FACT: The ideal time to get your flu shot is before the end of October—before flu season peaks. However, getting vaccinated later in the season is still effective. Know that it takes about two weeks to build your immunity to the virus after vaccination. If fear of getting a shot is what’s keeping you away, there’s good news: FluMist, a nasal spray vaccine, is approved for use in non-pregnant individuals, ages 2 through 49.

Your Survival Guide to Cold and Flu Season

Find vaccine FAQs, see local case numbers, and get expert advice on all the bugs going around this season – including cold, flu, RSV, norovirus, and more.

Learn More