Influenza is the sixth leading cause of death among American adults.
Each year, about 36,000 people die from influenza, and 114,000 people are hospitalized.
Influenza is a highly contagious disease that is spread by coughing, sneezing and through direct physical contact with objects that carry the virus such as doorknobs and telephones.
Symptoms of influenza include fever, extreme fatigue, headache and body aches; about 50% of infected people have no symptoms but are still contagious.
Immunization is 70-90% effective in preventing influenza in health people under the age of 65.
The influenza vaccine cannot cause influenza.
New variants of influenza arise each year and therefore a new vaccine must be made and given each year.