Flu Vaccine

The flu shot is a vaccine given to help the body develop antibodies against the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Everyone over the age of six months should get the flu shot every season.

The body takes about two weeks to develop antibodies against the flu after the shot. The CDC recommends getting the shot early enough to develop the required immunity before flu season begins. Vaccines are available in many places, including doctor’s offices and pharmacies. People should get the shot annually because immunity decreases over time and because the formulation of the vaccine changes to match variants of the flu each year.