How many times can you get influenza each year?

Usually once: There is usually just one strain of influenza that circulates in the community each year. However, there are exceptions, especially if you're traveling to different parts of the world, or if you were to catch both influenza and parainfluenza.

Three times : There are currently 3 circulating strains of influenza in the United States on the cdc website, so you could be infected three separate times this season. You would only get each strain once, however. I had an unfortunate patient who was infected with both influenza a and b last week. I advise even those who have had influenza to have the vaccine to reduce their risk of a 2nd or 3rd bout.