CDC panel votes against mercury-based preservative in flu shots
CDC panel, reshaped by RFK Jr., rejects thimerosal flu shots and backs RSV drug amid resignations, expert criticism and procedural concerns.
Straight Arrow News – June 27, 2025
With flu season right around the corner, now’s the best time to receive the flu vaccine, experts say.
“The flu vaccine is one of the most important things that people can do to protect themselves as the winter months approach,” says Dr. Roy Gulick, the Chief of Infectious Diseases at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian. It’s estimated that the United States sees around 10 million to 40 million cases of the flu each year, he says.
Who should prioritize receiving the flu vaccine, and how long will it protect you against the flu? We asked the experts to answer your flu shot FAQs.
What does the flu vaccine protect against?
The flu vaccine changes yearly, containing strains of the influenza virus “that are predicted to be the most serious in the United States and the northern hemisphere,” says Gulick. This year, experts have identified three strains of influenza – two strains of influenza A, and one strain of influenza B – that will be incorporated into this year’s vaccine, he says.
“The flu shot stimulates our immune system to better recognize the flu virus, and to be able to neutralize it or kill it,” explains Gulick. The shot will lower your risk of getting the flu if you come in contact with the virus. But if you’re vaccinated and do happen to catch the flu, the shot reduces the severity of your symptoms.
If you haven’t received the vaccine, your body’s “defense system isn’t ready, so the virus has time to grow and cause symptoms (that) can make you sicker,” says Dr. Natalie Cameron, an instructor of medicine at Northwestern Medicine. Receiving the flu shot vastly lowers your risk of flu-related complications, including pneumonia, hospitalization and in severe cases, death. According to the CDC, there are approximately 500,000 flu-related hospitalizations each year, resulting in around 25,000 deaths, says Gulick.
Who should receive the flu vaccine?
The CDC currently recommends that everyone over the age of six months receive an annual flu vaccine (though there are a few rare exceptions). “In reality, less than half of U.S. adults end up receiving it,” says Gulick.
Anyone with an increased risk of flu-related complications should be sure to receive the flu vaccine, he says. This includes people over the age of 65, children under the age of 2, pregnant people and those who live with certain chronic illnesses (such as diabetes, cancer, HIV, heart disease, lung disease, liver disease or kidney disease).
When is flu season? And when to get flu shot
As we enter the beginning of flu season, October is a great time to get your shot, experts agree. After you receive the flu vaccine, your body will need around two weeks to produce antibodies and build up immunity against the virus, says Cameron.
The flu shot is designed to protect you throughout the entire flu season, which lasts until around May. “The flu virus itself can mutate and change every year,” Cameron adds, which is why the vaccine is modified ahead of each flu season. Unlike other vaccines (like measles, where two doses provide 97% lifetime protection), the flu vaccine is one that “people need to get every year,” says Gulick.
What to avoid after flu shot
There’s no particular activity or medication that you need to avoid after getting the flu shot, though it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor if you have concerns, says Cameron.
The most common complaint that Cameron hears after someone receives the vaccine is a little soreness at the site of injection. Some people may also experience a mild flu-like reaction with fever and muscle aches, though symptoms should subside within one to two days, Gulick says.
Remember, the flu virus is a preventable illness, one that should be taken seriously. “Getting the flu vaccine is one of the best things you can do to prevent illness, not only in yourself, but in people around you,” underscores Gulick.