evidence: Flu vaccines are safe and the best way to protect yourself against getting sick. Getting a flu vaccine reduces your risk of getting the flu and reduces your risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death if you do get it. [...] Flu vaccines are made using killed flu viruses (for inactivated vaccines), or without flu virus at all (for recombinant vaccines). You cannot get the flu from a flu vaccine. [...] Flu is very contagious and easily spreads through contact with someone who is sick. The virus spreads mainly by droplets produced when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks. People can become sick if these droplets or infected mucus or saliva enter their eyes, nose or mouth.