Every year, public health experts urge people to get a flu shot, and every year many people skip it. During the 2022–23 season, which hit the U.S. early and hard, experts warned that “vaccine fatigue” was making that message even harder to deliver, even as hospitals filled with flu patients.
An early, intense season
Flu arrived weeks earlier than usual that year. By early December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the first signs that flu activity was slowing in some parts of the country, with hospitalizations down about 10% from the season’s worst week. But activity remained high nationwide, and experts cautioned that holiday travel and gatherings could push cases back up. At the same time, COVID-19 and RSV were also spreading.
Vaccination rates were falling short
Despite the heavy season, flu vaccine uptake lagged. CDC data at the time showed that only about 26% of U.S. adults had received a flu shot by the end of October, and about 43% of children by the end of November. Millions fewer doses had been distributed than in previous years.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2030 plan aims for 70% of people to get vaccinated against the flu each year. For the past decade, fewer than half of Americans have done so.
What’s behind “vaccine fatigue”
Infectious disease experts described widespread vaccine fatigue. After years of pandemic messaging, many people were tired of hearing about vaccines, and being asked to get both a flu shot and a COVID-19 booster felt like a hard sell. Other common reasons people skip the flu shot include believing they’re healthy enough not to need it, worrying about side effects, thinking the vaccine doesn’t work well, or simply not getting around to it.
Why the flu shot is still worth it
- It lowers your risk of serious illness. Even when it doesn’t prevent every infection, the flu vaccine reduces the chance of hospitalization and death.
- It protects people around you. Babies under 6 months can’t be vaccinated, and older adults and people with weakened immune systems don’t always respond strongly to vaccines. Higher vaccination rates help shield them.
- It can make illness milder. Vaccinated people who do get sick often have shorter, less severe illness.
- It’s safe for most people. Common side effects are mild, such as a sore arm, low-grade fever or tiredness for a day or two. The flu shot cannot give you the flu.
- You can get it with other vaccines. It’s generally fine to get flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same visit, which saves a trip.
What this means for you
- Get vaccinated every year. Flu viruses change and protection fades, so an annual shot is recommended for almost everyone 6 months and older.
- Aim for early fall, but getting vaccinated later in the season still helps, since flu often circulates into spring.
- Ask about the right vaccine for you. Higher-dose or enhanced flu vaccines are recommended for adults 65 and older.
- Know about treatment. If you get the flu and are at higher risk, antiviral medicine can help, especially if started within about two days of symptoms.
The bottom line
Flu seasons can arrive early and hit hard, and vaccine fatigue has left many people unprotected. An annual flu shot remains one of the simplest ways to protect yourself and the people you love.
This article is for general information and isn’t medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your individual needs.
