Who Should Get the Flu Shot?
Flu vaccination is recommended for nearly everyone six months and older, with different formulations based on age and medical history:
- Standard-dose inactivated vaccines — for individuals 6 months and up
- Recombinant flu vaccine — approved for adults 18+
- High-dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines — designed for adults 65+
Your health insurance or Medicare plan should cover one flu shot per year under preventive health benefits, whether you receive it at your doctor’s office, retail pharmacy, or a public health vaccination clinic.
Staying Protected in 2025
The 2025 flu season is expected to be more active than the previous two, as travel and in-person activities have fully resumed. The CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services continue to stress the importance of annual vaccinations to reduce hospital burdens and prevent new viral strains from spreading.
The flu shot remains one of the simplest, most cost-effective forms of preventive care covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance.
If you want to learn more about vaccine safety and how your coverage works, check with your insurance provider or visit healthcare.gov for updated guidelines on vaccine reimbursement, urgent care costs, and preventive health coverage.
Conclusion: The Benefits Outweigh the Risks
When you compare the very small chance of one of these side-effects with the much higher risk of complications from influenza (including hospitalisation, pneumonia, death) it’s clear the flu shot remains an essential preventive tool.
If you haven’t already taken advantage of your best health insurance plan’s preventive benefits, now is a good time. Book your shot, update your health records, consider using your HSA and schedule a virtual doctor consultation if you have any concerns. Staying ahead with vaccination is not just about you — it’s about protecting family, community and health system resources.
