Now Is the Best Time to Get Your Flu Shot
What are the different types of flu shots?
The flu vaccine is available as a shot or nasal spray. For the first time, a flu shot using mRNA technology is available this year. In a study published in May 2026, the mRNA-based flu shot, produced by Moderna and called mFlusiva, was up to 27% more effective in preventing flu than any of four currently available flu shots. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved mFlusiva for people ages 50 and older.
You need to get a flu vaccine every year to stay protected against the virus as flu strains are constantly evolving, and immune protection against the flu decreases over time. (That is also true if you get sick from the flu, Martin says. Natural immunity also wears off.)
Is the flu shot effective?
Flu vaccination helps prevent infection and significantly reduces the risk of severe disease and death. The CDC estimates that flu vaccination prevented 10 million flu-related illnesses, 180,000 flu-related hospitalizations, and 12,000 flu-related deaths in the U.S. during the 2024–2025 flu season.
