Flu Season 2025: Doctors Warn Skipping the Flu Shot This Year Could Be a Mistake
Flu season is coming and less than half of American adults will get vaccinated. The rest will spend winter gambling with their health.
Dr. Roy Gulick from Weill Cornell Medicine says the U.S. sees 10 to 40 million flu cases yearly. About 500,000 people end up hospitalized. Around 25,000 die from the flu, which is a preventable illness.
What's Actually in This Year's Shot
The flu vaccine changes every year based on which strains scientists predict will hit hardest. This year it's two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B.
The shot teaches your immune system to recognize and fight these specific viruses. If you encounter the flu after vaccination, your body's ready. If you skip the shot, the virus has time to multiply while your immune system scrambles to catch up.
Dr. Natalie Cameron from Northwestern Medicine explains it simply: without the vaccine, your defense system isn't prepared. You get sicker, longer, with higher risk of complications.
Who Actually Needs This
The CDC says everyone over 6 months old should get it. But especially these people:
Anyone over 65
Kids under 2
Pregnant women
People with chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, HIV, heart disease, lung disease
These aren't suggestions. If you're in these groups and skip the shot, you're playing with fire. Flu complications for high-risk people include pneumonia and death. Not "feeling crummy for a few days."
When to Get It
October. Now. Today if possible.
Your body needs two weeks after the shot to build immunity. Flu season runs through May, and the vaccine protects you the whole time.
The virus mutates every year, which is why last year's shot won't help you now. Unlike measles (two shots, lifetime protection), you need a flu shot annually. Sure, it’s annoying. But less annoying than the flu.
The Excuses People Use
"I never get sick." Until you do. Then you're that person spreading flu to everyone at work, the grocery store, your kid's school.
"The shot gives you the flu." No, it doesn't. You might get a sore arm or feel achy for a day. That's your immune system learning to fight the virus. It's not the flu.
"I don't have time." CVS, Walgreens, grocery store pharmacies - they all have it. Takes 5 minutes. You spent longer reading this article.
"It doesn't work perfectly." True. But it reduces severity if you do get sick. Would you rather have mild symptoms or end up in the hospital?
What Happens After
Some people get a sore arm. Some feel mildly unwell for a day or two with muscle aches or low fever. That's it. That's the big scary side effect everyone's worried about.
Cameron says there's nothing special to avoid after getting the shot. Live your life. Just now with better protection against a virus that kills tens of thousands annually.
The Part Nobody Talks About
When you skip the flu shot, you're not just risking your own health. You're potentially spreading it to people who can't fight it off - elderly relatives, immunocompromised friends, babies too young for the vaccine.
Gulick puts it plainly: "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."
Bottom Line
October's here. Flu season's starting. The shot's available everywhere. It's covered by most insurance. It takes minutes.
The flu's not a cold. It's not "just feeling bad." It hospitalizes hundreds of thousands and kills tens of thousands every year. And you can significantly reduce your risk with a shot that might make your arm sore.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about vaccines, medical conditions, or health concerns.