In this Article

• What is flu?
• Why vaccinate for the flu?
• What is the flu vaccine?
• Who should receive the flu vaccine?
• Who should not receive the flu vaccine?
• How effective is the flu vaccine?
• What is the novel H1N1 ("swine" flu) vaccine, and who should receive it?
• Flu Vaccine At A Glance
• Flu Vaccination Index

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:

• Children aged 6 months up to 19 years of age



• Pregnant women



• People 50 years of age and older



• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions



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



• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including
  
  
  • health-care workers,
  
  
  
  • household contacts of people 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 receive the flu vaccine?

Those who should avoid the flu vaccine include

• people with a history of allergic reactions to chicken eggs,



• those with a history of hypersensitivity to the vaccine,



• infants less than 6 months of age,



• those with recent febrile (having fever) illness (although you can be vaccinated if you have a cold or other mild illness without fever),
  
  
• subsequent vaccination should be avoided for people known to have developed the rare nerve disease Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS, see above) within six weeks of a previous vaccination.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• oseltamivir, Tamiflu - Learn about Tamiflu (oseltavivir), a drug prescribed for the treatment of flu infections including H1N1 (swine flu) infections. Tamiflu is recommended for pregnant women, adults, and children one year of age or older.
• Childhood Vaccination Schedule - Read our printable children's immunization schedule and learn about vaccines for kids (Hib, polio, DTaP, MMR, HPV, flu, chickenpox, meningitis, rotavirus, pneumonia, hepatitis A and B).
• Swine Flu - Get the facts on swine flu (swine influenza A H1N1 virus) history, symptoms, how this contagious infection is transmitted, prevention with a vaccine, diagnosis, treatment, news and research.

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