Fall is a great time to get your influenza shot. However, fewer people are getting flu shots these days. The flu can be a severe and even deadly illness, especially among high-risk and vulnerable members of our communities like babies, young children, those with chronic conditions and adults over the age of 65.
Flu vaccine coverage for adults was mostly stagnant during the 2024-2025 flu season compared to the year prior, according to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By April 2025, nearly 47% of adults received a flu vaccination, which was nearly identical to the 47.4% of adults reported to have been vaccinated at the same point in the 2023–24 season.
However, this is not always the case. It’s important for flu vaccination coverage to remain similar year over year, as lower vaccination rates weaken the community’s natural immunity against the flu, making the flu shot even more important.
Flu shots are recommended every year for individuals ages 6 months and older. For the 2025-2026 flu season, CDC recommends seasonal flu vaccination with single-dose formulations that are free of thimerosal as a preservative for children, pregnant women, and adults.
Here’s everything else you need to need to know about the flu shot to prepare you and your family this season.