Yes—both lower serious illness risk; flu shots prevented an estimated 180,000 hospital stays in the 2024–25 season. St. Olaf College’s expert overview explains why yearly shots matter. It reviews evidence about Preventive Vaccines, rather than reporting one new study. The article covers flu and COVID-19 protection across different ages. It also describes benefits during pregnancy and for adults with heart disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated the flu benefits for 2024–25. Along with those hospital stays, shots prevented about 10 million illnesses. They also prevented five million medical visits and 12,000 deaths. The article reports that flu shots reduce the risk of seeking flu care by 40–60%. These are group-level findings, not a promise that anyone will avoid illness. For COVID-19, the article reports lower risks of severe illness, hospitalization, and death. It also reports protection against long COVID—health problems that persist after infection. During pregnancy, vaccination reduced newborns’ COVID-19 hospital stays by about 54%. That figure covered the first three months of life. Yearly updates matter because viruses change and protection fades. Updated shots help protect against newer versions of these viruses. The article notes that some age groups may need two doses. Examples include children getting their first flu shots and adults over 65 receiving COVID-19 shots. For BioSocial members, a useful record can go beyond the shot date. It could include the number of illnesses, sick days, and medical visits each season. Comparing notes can help members keep track of their routines. Personal logs cannot prove how well a shot worked, though. Exposure and other factors also differ from year to year. What have you noticed in your seasonal illness records alongside your vaccine dates?