Flu season, when influenza and other common respiratory illnesses spread further, has arrived – which means if you haven't received one already, it may be time for your flu vaccine.
While vaccine access has been questioned since Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took over federal health agencies earlier this year, flu shot recommendations for Americans are largely unchanged.
Everyone ages 6 months or older should get the flu shot every year, according to the CDC and major medical institutions such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, unless you have a condition such as an allergy to its ingredients or a previous severe reaction.
Medical experts say getting a yearly flu vaccination is the best way to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications.
The flu shot is usually available for free or at a low cost in the United States.
