Because influenza viruses are always changing, the flu vaccine is reviewed annually and updated, as needed, to offer increased protection. This year, MobileVAX offers the standard Quadrivalent (QIV) flu vaccine as well as senior-dose vaccines for adults ages 65 and older.

Influenza vaccines are formulated using either inactivated viruses or proteins derived from the influenza virus. It's important to note that receiving a flu shot cannot cause a person to contract the flu. Typical, albeit infrequent, side effects of the vaccine encompass localized symptoms such as soreness, redness, tenderness, or swelling at the injection site, as well as more general symptoms like headaches, low-grade fever, nausea, muscle aches, and fatigue. These side effects typically manifest shortly after vaccination and usually subside within a few days. Severe allergic reactions to flu vaccines are exceedingly uncommon.

Yes. MobileVAX offers specific CDC recommended doses for seniors ages 65 and above.

Fluad is an adjuvanted influenza vaccine approved for people 65 years and older; it contains an adjuvant, a medical ingredient that helps the body elicit a better immune response to the vaccine.

Another option is Fluzone HD, which is a high-dose vaccine that contains four times the antigen as the regular flu vaccine and is intended to create a stronger immune response for seniors, who are at greater risk of developing severe flu-related illnesses.

Yes, the influenza vaccine is safe and recommended for children 6 months of age and older.

Indeed, pregnant women face a heightened susceptibility to complications related to the flu. This elevated risk arises from alterations in their immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy. Furthermore, pregnant women who opt for a flu shot not only safeguard their own health but also extend protective benefits to their infants during the initial months after birth when the little ones are too young to receive the vaccination themselves.

Some people who get vaccinated may still get sick. However, several studies have shown that vaccination reduces the severity of illness in those people who get vaccinated but still get sick.

Other recent studies show that while vaccine effectiveness can vary, flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness by between 40 percent and 60 percent among the overall population during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are well matched to the viruses used to make flu vaccines.