Influenza is an acute viral infection that can be severe and cause complications, especially in young children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with chronic illnesses. Seasonal flu vaccination is the most effective way to reduce the risk of infection, severe disease, hospitalization, and complications. In Latvia, flu vaccination is especially recommended for risk groups, and for children the vaccine is recommended from six months of age.
What is influenza?
Influenza is an acute viral respiratory infection. It differs from the common cold in that it more often starts suddenly and can cause a high fever, chills, weakness, muscle aches, headache, cough, and a significant deterioration in general well-being. In some patients, especially those in risk groups, influenza can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, exacerbation of chronic diseases, and the need for hospitalization. Influenza viruses are constantly changing, which is why the composition of the vaccine is regularly updated each season. This is exactly why seasonal vaccination is relevant every year.
Flu vaccine for children
Children are recommended to receive the flu vaccine from six months of age, as confirmed by international recommendations. This is especially important for young children because they are at greater risk of severe disease and complications. In Latvia, state-funded flu vaccination is available for:
children from 6 to 23 months of age;
children from 2 to 17 years of age who belong to certain health risk groups.
For children under five years of age, a certificate from the family doctor regarding the child’s health status is mandatory for the first vaccination.
Flu vaccine for pregnant women
The flu vaccine is also recommended for women during pregnancy. The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC) states that influenza in pregnant women may be more severe and can cause serious complications, which is why vaccination is especially recommended. SPKC also states that flu vaccination is safe in any trimester of pregnancy, and the antibodies developed after vaccination are also passed on to the baby.
Flu vaccination for pregnant women is fully state-funded.
Flu vaccine for adults and seniors
When is the flu vaccine recommended for adults?
The flu vaccine is recommended for adults every year, because seasonal vaccination is the main way to reduce the risk of infection, severe illness, and complications. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone, but especially for people at increased health risk.
The flu vaccine is especially recommended for adults who have:
chronic lung diseases;
cardiovascular diseases;
kidney or metabolic diseases;
immunodeficiency or immunosuppressive therapy;
pregnancy;
increased occupational risk, for example in healthcare.
When is the flu vaccine recommended for seniors?
The flu vaccine is especially recommended for seniors from the age of 65, because this age group has a higher risk of severe influenza, complications, hospitalization, and death. For people aged 65 and over, a high-dose or enhanced-effect seasonal flu vaccine is recommended. SPKC emphasizes the importance of flu vaccination for seniors and notes that higher-effect vaccines may provide better protection against severe influenza and hospitalization in this age group. If such vaccines are not available, any age-appropriate flu vaccine should be used.
State-funded flu vaccination is available for:
adults aged 18–59 who belong to certain health risk groups;
adults aged 60 and over (including clients of social care centres, employees, and healthcare professionals aged 60 and above).
To confirm the availability of the National Health Service (NVD) state-funded vaccine, you should contact the chosen vaccination office before visiting.
Flu risk for travellers
Travellers going to world regions where the flu season is active at that time have an increased risk of becoming infected with influenza. This particularly applies during autumn, winter, and spring in countries where influenza spreads seasonally. During travel, the risk of infection increases when using crowded means of transport and spending long periods in airports, stations, hotels, and other heavily visited public places where viruses spread more easily.
The risk of more severe influenza is higher in certain groups of travellers — seniors, people with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, weakened immunity, and healthcare workers. Influenza during travel can not only cause significant discomfort and disrupt travel plans, but in some cases may also lead to serious or even life-threatening complications.
The influenza virus is constantly changing, so the vaccine composition is regularly adjusted to match the virus types circulating most commonly in a given season. To provide the most effective protection possible, the composition of the vaccine is updated every year. Since the flu season in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres takes place at different times of the year, the dominant virus types may also differ. In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually lasts from November to March, while in the Southern Hemisphere it usually lasts from April to September. Therefore, the vaccine composition is adapted to the specific hemisphere in which it is to be used.
This means that a flu vaccine received in one hemisphere may sometimes provide only partial protection when travelling to the other hemisphere. Therefore, people at higher risk of influenza complications are advised to get vaccinated every year. Those travelling from one hemisphere to the other shortly before or during the flu season are advised, where possible, to arrange vaccination at the destination after arrival, since the seasonal vaccine for the opposite hemisphere is not always available before travel.
When is the best time to get the flu vaccine?
Usually, the best time to get the flu vaccine is in autumn — September or October — before influenza becomes more widespread. It is generally recommended to get vaccinated by the end of October, but vaccination is still worthwhile later as long as the viruses continue to circulate. The flu and other acute respiratory infection season usually begins in October and continues until spring, often even until May. This is one of the reasons why vaccination is recommended before the most intense part of the season.
The optimal time for seasonal flu vaccination is the second half of October and November because:
influenza spreads more during the colder months of the year;
the body needs about two weeks to develop protection after vaccination;
vaccination helps ensure protection when the virus begins to spread actively.
It should also be emphasized that vaccination started too early may not provide protection throughout the entire influenza epidemic period or until the end of the flu season, especially during the final stage of the epidemic.
Scientific studies show that the highest protection against influenza is provided during the first four months after receiving the vaccine. During this period, the antibody level in the body is highest, ensuring effective protection against circulating strains of the influenza virus. After that, immunity gradually decreases, so the flu vaccine must be received every season, preferably shortly before the increase in flu incidence, in order to provide optimal protection throughout the epidemic period. This is especially important for people in risk groups, for whom influenza infection may cause severe complications or death.
According to influenza surveillance data from the last five seasons, in Latvia the epidemic spread of influenza on average begins in late December to early January, reaches the highest incidence levels in February and March, and gradually decreases in April, sometimes continuing until May. During the last six surveillance seasons (except the 2020–2021 season), the epidemic rise in influenza lasted on average 10 weeks (from 8 to 13 weeks), whereas in the 2024–2025 season it lasted 16 weeks.
Of the 146 influenza patient deaths recorded in the 2024–2025 season, 137 (93.8%) had not received seasonal flu vaccination. Among the unvaccinated deceased patients, 122 (89.1%) were people over 60 years of age. Of the deceased patients, nine (6.2%) had been vaccinated against influenza in the 2024–2025 season. The vaccinated deceased patients were men aged 57 to 83.
How long does the flu vaccine work?
After vaccination, antibodies usually develop within about two weeks. Protection is not lifelong — it is intended for a specific flu season, and immunity decreases over time. Therefore, the flu vaccine should be received every year.
In practice, protection is planned for one influenza season. The exact duration may vary from person to person, but the main reason for annual vaccination is that influenza viruses change every year and the protection produced by vaccination decreases over time.
Vaccination should be renewed every year before the new flu season. The flu vaccine must be renewed once every season, once a year. This is necessary because influenza viruses change and protection decreases over time.
Warnings and contraindications
Mild local and/or systemic reactions are quite common. Vaccination is contraindicated in people who are allergic to eggs.
Why choose flu vaccination?
It reduces the risk of illness and severe disease.
It is important for children, pregnant women, seniors, and patients with chronic diseases.
It helps protect not only the vaccinated person, but also those around them, including infants and family members.
Flu vaccination at “Veselības centrs 4”
The Vaccination Service of “Veselības centrs 4” offers flu vaccination for adults and children from six months of age.
Please contact the specific vaccination office in advance regarding vaccine availability.
Prices can be found in the Vaccination Service price list or at the bottom of this page below this post.
Book your flu vaccination at the Vaccination Service of “Veselības centrs 4”!
If you would like to protect yourself or your child, or reduce the risk of flu complications during pregnancy, sign up for a consultation and vaccination. Before your visit, it is recommended to уточнить vaccine availability and the possibility of state-funded vaccination in your specific situation.