Health Spotlight

It’s Flu Vaccine Time Again!

What is your favorite excuse? I never get the flu. My kids don’t need more shots. I don’t have time. We’re all healthy. My asthma’s under control. But, I’m pregnant. I’ve had the flu before; it’s not a big deal. My kids are too old for flu. The media is exaggerating. I can fight it naturally. My diabetes – it’s under control. Shots hurt.

No matter how many excuses you have, the flu can still strike and make you and your family very sick. This year the regular flu vaccine and the swine flu vaccine are combined – most people will only need one shot. Contact your PCP or participating pharmacy about receiving your annual flu vaccine.

Who Should Be Vaccinated
While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that the following groups get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications:

1. Pregnant women

2. Children 6 months of age and older

3. People 50 years of age and older

4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (i.e., diabetes, asthma, other lung diseases, heart conditions or other chronic health problems)

5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities

6. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
• Health care workers
• Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
• Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated
There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a physician. These include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs

• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination

• People who developed Guillain- Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine in the past

• Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group), but their caregivers should get vaccinated and,

• People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.)

For the most accurate health information, visit www.cdc.gov/flu, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO, 24/7.

*Some people should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a physician.