Paul Rasmussen, a retired police officer, was a healthy, active 57-year-old who loved spending time outdoors. In 2016, he tragically passed away after a sudden and aggressive battle with influenza (the “flu”). Today, Paul’s family shares his story through Families Fighting Flu to help others understand how serious this viral illness can be—especially for older adults.

Stories like Paul’s show why the flu is not something to be taken lightly. Yet misinformation still creates confusion and uncertainty. Below, we separate fact from fiction so you can make smart decisions about your health.

✅ Flu fact #1: The flu vaccine is effective

The flu shot has proven time and again to be highly effective in reducing the risk of severe flu-related illness, hospitalization, and death. In a 2025 study, researchers found that in adults up to age 65, the vaccine lowered the risk of hospitalization or pneumonia by 40%. For those 65 and older, there was:

• A 30% reduction in the risk of hospitalization
• A 45% reduction in the risk of pneumonia
• A 53% reduction in the risk of needing intensive care¹

One of the most common misconceptions about the flu vaccine is that it will prevent you from getting the flu. But the vaccine does not create an invisible shield that blocks every virus. Instead, it trains your immune system so that if you’re exposed to the flu, your body can fight it off faster and more effectively.

Think of it like wearing your seatbelt. A seatbelt doesn’t stop accidents—but it greatly reduces your risk of serious injury if one happens. In the same way, the flu vaccine doesn’t guarantee you won’t get sick, but it lowers your chances of ending up in the hospital, developing complications like pneumonia, or dying.

A 2025-2026 updated flu vaccine is now available. CDC recommends that everyone age 6 months and older get a seasonal flu vaccine every year. An annual flu shot is also strongly recommended by other major medical organizations like the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association.

“The flu shot is one very important layer of protection that works best alongside other preventive steps,” said Dorothea Vafiadis, Senior Director of NCOA's Center for Healthy Aging. “These other steps include staying home when ill, practicing good handwashing habits, and being mindful in group settings when flu activity is spiking in your area.”

✅ Flu fact #2: The flu causes serious illness

You may have heard people say, “The flu is just like a bad cold—it’s not that big of a deal.”

A cold is annoying and inconvenient. The flu can be life-threatening.

Colds usually come with a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and maybe a mild cough. You might feel a little tired and run down, but for the most part, you probably carry on with your normal routine.

The flu is a very different animal:

• Symptoms like high fever and chills, sore throat, painful body aches, and extreme fatigue tend to emerge suddenly and worsen quickly. Even a mild flu can leave you feeling unwell for a week or more.
• For older adults and those with chronic health conditions, flu infections can be even more debilitating, leading to hospital stays and longer recoveries. Some people may never fully regain their strength and independence.
• Flu infections can lead to  complications, including  pneumonia and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscles). During the first couple of weeks it can raise the risk of heart attack or stroke.²

Calling the flu “just a bad cold” causes people to underestimate its dangers, and that can lead to skipped vaccinations and delayed treatment.

✅ Flu fact #3: The flu shot is safe

The flu shot's safety is backed by more than 50 years of research and the personal experiences of millions of Americans. Since the vaccine changes every year to match circulating flu strains, some people worry it is not fully tested. In reality, only the part of the vaccine that targets the flu virus changes. The vaccine’s  core ingredients and basic formulation stay the same, so its safety profile does not change from year to year.

It's true you might have a sore arm or feel slightly under the weather for a day or two after receiving your flu and COVID vaccines. Some people may even develop a slight fever and mild muscle aches.

But unlike the flu, these temporary side effects are mild and harmless. They’re also a good sign your immune system is doing its job of building protection against the virus.

✅ Flu fact #4: The flu shot cannot give you the flu

The flu shots used in the U.S. contain either inactivated (killed) virus or pieces (proteins) of the virus. There is no live flu virus in these vaccines that could cause an active infection.

Why is there a misconception that the flu vaccine causes the flu? People typically get their flu shot when many respiratory viruses are making the rounds. They might catch a cold or another virus shortly afterward and think the shot caused it. Or they may already have been exposed to the flu virus before the vaccine had time to fully work (which takes about two weeks).

But the fact is that the flu shot itself cannot give you the flu.

✅ Flu fact #5: You need a flu shot even if you rarely get sick

You might feel strong and healthy and live an active, independent life. But age changes how your immune system works, even if you feel great.

As we get older, our bodies don’t respond to infections as quickly or as powerfully as they did in our younger days.

That means if you’re 65 or older:

• You are more likely to get seriously ill from the flu.
• You are more likely to develop flu complications (e.g., pneumonia, dehydration, secondary infections).
• You are more likely to be hospitalized.

Even very healthy older adults face a much higher risk than younger people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in recent years, up to 85% of flu-related deaths happened among people age 65 or older. And up to 70% of flu-related hospital stays occurred in this age group.³

Another reason to get your flu shot even if you’re healthy is that flu viruses mutate (change) very quickly. So while you may never have gotten the flu in the past, there's no way of knowing how your immune system will react to this season's new strains.

✅ Flu fact #6: It’s not too late to get vaccinated once flu season starts

The best time to get your flu shot, according to CDC, is at the start of the season—mid-September or October. That way you’ll have strong protection when flu activity is at its worst.

That said, if you miss the early fall vaccination window, there’s no need to skip your shot. Flu season often lasts well into spring, even as late as March.

So if you’re vaccinated later in the season, you can still:

• Avoid catching the flu altogether
• Get a milder case if you do get sick
• Reduce your risk of hospitalization

Waiting until “next year” just leaves you unprotected—and you don’t want that, especially if there’s a second wave of flu cases (a common occurrence).

✅ Flu fact #7: You need a flu shot every year

The flu virus is covered in proteins that act like a protective outer shell. The flu vaccine helps your immune system to recognize and attack these outer proteins so the virus can’t infect your cells. Because flu viruses change these outer proteins often, the vaccine is updated every year. Scientists study which strains are circulating in communities and update the vaccine to match them as closely as possible.

Getting an updated shot each year means you’ll have the best possible protection against the flu strains spreading in your region. 

On top of that, your immunity from last year’s shot fades over time. Researchers have found that flu shot effectiveness drops by about 8-9% each month after vaccination. That means by the time the next flu season rolls around, you’re no longer well protected. This decline is shown to be even more pronounced in people age 65 and older, which is why older adults should not get vaccinated too early in the season.

✅ Flu fact #8: A flu shot is beneficial even when it’s not a perfect match to the circulating strains

Some seasons, the vaccine is not a match to those strains. Even so, public health experts consistently find that flu vaccination still offers meaningful protection—particularly for adults at higher risk of severe illness.

“It’s true that flu vaccines aren’t perfect, but they still offer meaningful protection, even when the virus changes. It’s like reinforcing your home before a storm,” explained Vafiadis. “You can’t stop the storm, but you can reduce the damage it causes. Getting vaccinated isn’t about being invincible;  it’s about lowering risk and protecting your health as much as possible.”

The bottom line: A yearly flu shot is vitally important for keeping your protection up to date. You can get your flu shot at the same time as your COVID vaccine, if you haven’t already received it. A 2025-2026 updated COVID vaccine is now available, which can help protect you and those you care about from severe COVID disease, hospitalization, and death. For everyone age 6 months and older, vaccination against COVID is considered an individual decision to be made with a health care provider.

Get the facts on flu and protect your health

Vafiadis warns that misinformation about the flu can be as dangerous as the virus itself: “It undermines trust in health experts and can cause people to skip vaccination or put off care when they do get sick,” she said. “We encourage older adults to talk to their healthcare provider about their personal flu risk and the best steps they can take to stay safe and healthy this season.”

Sources

1. Sergey Yegorov et al., Effectiveness of influenza vaccination to prevent severe disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of test-negative design studies. Clinical Microbiology and Infection. October 12, 2025. Found on the internet at https://www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.org/article/S1198-743X(25)00474-4/fulltext

2. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Flu and Older Adults. Found on the internet at https://www.nfid.org/infectious-diseases/flu-and-older-adults/

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu & People 65 Years and Older. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/65over.htm