You might not be able to completely avoid a cold or the flu, but there are definitely steps you can take to lower your chances and lessen the severity if you do get sick. Following the well-known health advice not only helps you but also reduces the risk of spreading these illnesses to others.
Get a Flu Shot
Vaccination is considered the most effective way to decrease the risk of seasonal flu and its serious complications, as noted by health officials, including the CDC.
According to specialists like Steven Gordon, MD, and Kaitlyn Rivard, PharmD, from the Cleveland Clinic, getting vaccinated in September or October is ideal since that’s when the new vaccines typically become available. But if you haven’t gotten yours yet, don’t stress—now is still a good time.
Experts from the Virginia Department of Health, including respiratory specialists Elena Diskin and Lisa Sollot, as well as Christy Gray, the Division of Immunization director, insist that there’s still time to catch the flu vaccine. They mention that flu season runs from October to late April, with peak activity usually seen in January and February. So, if you haven’t received your shot yet, it’s still beneficial to do so.
Flu Vaccines Cannot Give You the Flu
It’s important to know that while some people might feel a bit off after getting the flu vaccine, it won’t give you the flu. The CDC explains that flu shots use either inactivated (killed) viruses or just a single protein from the virus. The nasal spray vaccine, suitable for ages 2 to 49 and potentially usable at home, contains live but weakened viruses—these are not strong enough to cause illness.
Just keep in mind that the vaccine takes about two weeks to provide full protection. So, if you end up being exposed to the flu virus shortly before or within two weeks after your vaccination, you could still get sick, but that wouldn’t be because of the vaccine itself.
Flu Vaccines Are Highly Effective at Preventing Severe Illness
The flu vaccine is adapted each year based on which viral strains are predicted to be circulating. While it’s not a guaranteed shield, it is very effective at preventing serious illness. For instance, in the 2024-2025 season, flu vaccines were found to be 56 percent effective, which is one of the best rates seen in nearly 15 years.
Effectiveness is assessed by looking at the rates of health outcomes—like illness severity, hospitalization, and death—among vaccinated versus unvaccinated individuals in real-world settings. This, I think, distinguishes effectiveness from efficacy, which is evaluated in controlled conditions.
As explained by Sai Paritala, an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, effectiveness essentially shows how much lower the risk of becoming ill is for vaccinated individuals compared to those who aren’t vaccinated, based on actual data.
