Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert receives his annual flu vaccine at the Pentagon. (U.S. Navy photo)

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone over the age of six months get the flu shot.

Here’s something all those “get vaccinated” messages don’t usually emphasize: Getting vaccinated isn’t really about you — it’s about protecting society as a whole.

Though many people think the flu is no big deal, this is a major misconception. Anywhere from 3,000 to 49,000 people die from influenza or its complications every year.

You don’t need to get a shot to protect yourself and people around you.

Here’s everything you need to know:

• The real reason to get a flu shot is much bigger than yourself
• The biggest misconception about the flu kills thousands of people every year
• The flu shot takes a while to activate — better get it now
• You don’t need a shot to get a flu vaccine
• You can now get a flu vaccine via a ‘jet injector,’ which shoots it straight into your arm without a needle
• Use this map to look up where you can get your flu shot
• Why we don’t have a flu vaccine that lasts forever