Annual vaccination is the best way to prevent flu. The vaccine is updated annually to protect against the influenza strains most likely to circulate each season. Even in cases when vaccination does not prevent infection completely, it can reduce the severity of the disease and prevent the most serious complications of flu, including hospitalization and death.
There are several types of flu vaccines offered at many convenient locations, including physician offices, public health departments, drug and retail stores, workplaces, and schools. Many insurance plans pay for annual flu vaccination. Individuals covered by Medicare Part B can get the flu vaccine at no cost (no co-pay, no deductible). Health experts say all flu vaccines provide protection, so do not delay if your first choice of vaccine is not available.
CDC recommends use of any licensed, age-appropriate influenza (flu) vaccine during the 2019-2020 influenza season. Options include inactivated influenza vaccine [IIV], recombinant influenza vaccine [RIV], or live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV). Different vaccines are licensed for different age groups, and some vaccines are not recommended for some groups of people. But where more than one suitable vaccine is available, no preference is expressed for any influenza flu vaccine over another.
Both trivalent (three-component) and quadrivalent (four-component) flu vaccines will be available for 2019-2020. Most vaccines will be quadrivalent.