Influenza (Flu)Vaccines

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Safety Information

Acerca de la influenza (gripe)

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. Puede causar un cuadro leve a grave. Serious complications of flu infection can result in hospitalization or death. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at higher risk for developing serious flu complications.

There are two main types of influenza (flu) viruses: Types A and B. Influenza A and B viruses that routinely spread in people (human influenza viruses) are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year. Learn more about flu.

There are safe vaccines that can help reduce the risk from flu and its potentially serious complications.

Declaraciones de información sobre la vacuna

Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) are information sheets produced by CDC that explain both the benefits and risks of a vaccine.

  • Flu - Inactivated or Recombinant Shot
    Inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV) and recombinant influenza vaccines (RIV) are shots that can be given to children and adults, with age-specific formulas available
  • Flu - Live, Intranasal Spray
    Live, attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) is a nasal spray that can be given to non-pregnant people 2 through 49 years of age.

Child and Adult Immunization Schedules
Get CDC’s official recommended immunization schedules for children, adolescents, and adults.

Available Vaccines

In the United States, there are currently two ways someone can get a flu vaccine-by injection (a shot) or nasal spray. There is no preferential recommendation for any one flu vaccine over another. Note: In any given flu season, there are multiple FDA-licensed flu vaccines from different manufacturers available for use.

Injectable flu vaccines

Flu shots include inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV) and recombinant influenza vaccines (RIV). Flu shots do not contain live flu viruses. These vaccines come in various types of trivalent, quadrivalent, high-dose, adjuvanted, cell-based, and recombinant formulations.

Nasal spray flu vaccine

Also known as live, attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), this nasal spray contains live viruses. However, the viruses are attenuated (weakened), so that they will not cause influenza

Learn more about different types of flu vaccines.

Who Should Get Flu Vaccine


Talk with your
proveedor de atención médica
about vaccines.


They can answer questions and
offer advice based on your
specific health needs.

CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older with any flu vaccine licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that is appropriate for the recipient’s age and health status.

Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at high risk of developing serious complications from influenza.

Specific high-risk groups include:

  • Adultos de 65 años en adelante
  • People who have diabetes
  • Mujeres embarazadas
  • People who have compromised immune systems, such as that due to HIV/AIDS, other medical conditions, and medications
  • Niños pequeños
  • Personas con cáncer
  • Children with neurologic conditions
  • Personas con asma
  • People with a history of heart disease and stroke
  • People with some other chronic medical conditions, such as kidney, liver, blood, and metabolic disorders

Para obtener más información, consulte Quién necesita la vacuna contra la influenza y cuándo.

Manufacturer Package Inserts

These FDA-licensed vaccine products are available in the United States for the 2021-2022 flu season. La composición de las vacunas contra la influenza para los EE. UU. se revisa todos los años y se actualiza, según corresponda, para que coincida con los virus de la influenza en circulación. This season, only quadrivalent formulations are available. They are designed to protect against four flu viruses.

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Efectos secundarios comunes

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. Many people who get an annual flu vaccine have no side effects at all. Most side effects from flu vaccination are mild and go away on their own in a few days without any treatment.

Important!

Severe allergic reactions following vaccination are rare, but can be life threatening.
Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness.

If such reactions occur, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the nearest hospital.

Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (IIV) and Recombinant Influenza Vaccine (RIV)
Efectos secundarios comunes
  • Injection site reactions that include soreness, redness and swollen arm
  • Fiebre
  • Muscle Aches
  • Dolor de cabeza
  • Fatiga
Who Should Not Get IIV or RIV (flu shot)

People should not get a flu shot if they:

  • Are younger than 6 months of age.
  • Have severe, life-threatening allergies to flu vaccine or any ingredient in the vaccine. Esto puede incluir gelatina, antibióticos u otros ingredientes. Consulte las consideraciones especiales sobre la alergia al huevo para obtener más información sobre las alergias a los huevos y la vacuna contra la influenza.

People should talk to their healthcare provider before getting a flu shot if they:

  • Have an allergy to eggs or any of the ingredients in the vaccine.
  • Have ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Algunas personas con historial de SGB no deberían vacunarse contra la influenza.

People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting a flu shot.

In some cases, the healthcare provider may decide to postpone influenza vaccination to a future visit.

Live, Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV, nasal spray)
Efectos secundarios

En los niños, los efectos secundarios de la vacuna en atomizador nasal pueden incluir:

  • Moqueo
  • Sibilancias
  • Dolor de cabeza
  • Vómitos
  • Dolores musculares
  • Fiebre (en bajos grados)

En los adultos, los efectos secundarios de la vacuna en atomizador nasal pueden incluir:

  • Moqueo
  • Dolor de cabeza
  • Dolor de garganta
  • Tos
Who Should Not Get LAIV (flu nasal spray vaccine)

People should not get a nasal spray flu vaccine if they:

  • Are younger than 2 years of age.
  • Are 50 years of age and older.
  • Are pregnant.
  • Have severe, life-threatening allergies to nasal spray flu vaccine or any ingredient in the vaccine.
  • Are between 2-17 years of age and are receiving aspirin, aspirin-containing, or salicylate-containing products.
  • Have weakened immune systems (immunosuppression).
  • Care for or are close contacts of severely immunocompromised persons who require a protected environment (or otherwise avoid contact with those persons for 7 days after getting the nasal spray vaccine).
  • Are 2 years through 4 years and have asthma or have had a history of wheezing in the past 12 months.
  • Have recently taken medicamentos antivirales contra la influenza. People who have taken these medications should talk with their healthcare provider about which influenza antiviral was taken, and when the last dose was taken.
  • No se recomienda el uso de la LAIV en personas con ciertas afecciones de salud crónicas debido a que no se ha determinado la seguridad y la efectividad de esta vacuna en personas con esas afecciones. (Vea Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines – ACIP Recommendations for a list of contraindications and precautions for the nasal spray vaccine.)

People should talk to their healthcare provider before getting a nasal spray flu vaccine if they:

  • Are 5 years and older and have asthma.
  • Have other underlying medical conditions that can put them at alto riesgo de desarrollar complicaciones graves a causa de la influenza. These include conditions such as chronic lung diseases, heart disease (except isolated hypertension), kidney disease, liver disorders, neurologic and neuromuscular disorders, blood disorders, or metabolic disorders (such as diabetes).
  • Have moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever.
  • Have had Guillain-Barré Syndrome after a previous dose of influenza vaccine.

People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting a flu vaccine.

In some cases, the healthcare provider may decide to postpone influenza vaccination to a future visit or suggest a different influenza vaccine.

Más información acerca de la vaccine contraindications and precautions.

Report Possible Adverse Events To VAERS

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is an early warning system, co-managed by CDC and FDA, that monitors for potential vaccine safety problems.

Healthcare providers and vaccine manufacturers are required by law to report certain adverse events following vaccination to VAERS; patients and caregivers can also submit reports.

Para obtener más información, consulte How to submit a report to VAERS.

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A Closer Look at the Safety Data

Findings from vaccine safety monitoring systems and scientific studies have shown that the flu vaccines have an excellent safety profile. Hundreds of millions of Americans have safely received flu vaccines for more than 50 years and the body of scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports their safety.

The safety of flu vaccines is monitored by CDC and FDA. Certain safety outcomes are commonly evaluated, including Guillain-Barré Syndrome, maternal and infant safety, and febrile seizures.

Síndrome de Guillain-Barré (SGB)

The data on an association between seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine and GBS have been variable from season-to-season. When there has been an increased risk, it has been in the range of 1-2 additional GBS cases per million flu vaccine doses administered. The data also indicate that a person is more likely to get GBS after flu disease than after getting a flu vaccine. Learn more about Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Maternal and Infant Safety

Pregnant women are considered at high risk for developing serious complications from flu. Several studies have shown that influenza vaccination can protect pregnant women during and after pregnancy and protect the baby from influenza infection for several months after birth. More information on flu vaccine effectiveness in pregnant women and their babies.

  • Using the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD), CDC conducted a study looking at the long-term outcomes of infants born to mothers who were vaccinated with tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) and the influenza vaccine during their pregnancy. The study found that influenza and Tdap vaccines in pregnancy are not associated with an increased risk of hospitalization or death in infants during the first six months of life.
    Fuente: Infant Hospitalizations and Mortality After Maternal Vaccination [Pediatrics. 2018]

Febrile Seizure

Febrile seizures are seizures caused by fevers in young children. They can occur in all children, including those who have no serious underlying health issues. Febrile seizures can occur after common childhood febrile illnesses, like colds and flu. Less commonly, febrile seizures can occur as a result of post-vaccination fever. Although febrile seizures can be frightening for parents, children recover quickly and are not at increased risk for seizure disorders later in life. Children eventually outgrow them.

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How CDC Monitors Vaccine Safety

CDC and FDA monitor the safety of vaccines after they are approved or authorized. If a problem is found with a vaccine, CDC and FDA will inform health officials, health care providers, and the public.

CDC uses 3 systems to monitor vaccine safety:

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Recursos adicionales

Related Scientific Articles

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