Flu Vaccination (cont.)
Who should receive the flu vaccine?
While anyone who wishes to reduce their risk of getting the flu can be
vaccinated, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends
that certain groups of people (who are at risk for serious complications from
the flu) be vaccinated each year. When vaccine supplies are limited or delayed,
the CDC makes recommendations for priority groups of people who should receive
the vaccination. The CDC recommends vaccination for the following groups:
1.
People at high risk for complications from the flu, including:
- people ages 65 and older,
- people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that
house those with long-term illnesses,
- adults and children 6 months and older with chronic
heart or lung conditions, including asthma,
- adults and children 6 months and older who needed
regular medical care or were in a hospital during the previous year because of
a metabolic disease (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease, or weakened
immune system (including immune
system problems caused by medicines or by infection with human immunodeficiency
virus [HIV/AIDS]),
- children 6 months to 18 years of age who are on
long-term aspirin therapy (children given aspirin while they have influenza
are at risk of Reye syndrome),
- women who will be pregnant during the influenza season,
- all children 6 to 23 months of age, and
- people with any condition that can compromise
respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions (that is, a
condition that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, such as brain injury
or disease, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders,
or other nerve or muscle
disorders).
2. People 50 to 64 years of age. Almost one-third of people in this
age group in the U.S. have one or more medical conditions that place them at
increased risk for serious flu complications.
3. People who can transmit flu to
others at high risk for complications .This means that all health-care workers,
caregivers of children 6 to 23 months of age, close contacts of people 65 years
and older, or any person in close contact with someone in a high-risk group (see
above) should be vaccinated so that they do not spread the infection to a
high-risk population.
Next: How is the flu vaccine administered? »
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