Who should get an influenza vaccine?
People 6 months of age and older at risk for getting a serious case of influenza or influenza complications, and people in close contact with them (including all household members) should get the vaccine. An annual flu shot is recommended for:
- All children 6-23 months of age
- Household contacts and out-of-home caretakers of infants from 0-23 months of age
- People 50 years of age or older
- Residents of long-term care facilities housing persons with chronic medical conditions
- People who have long-term health problems with heart disease, kidney disease, lung disease, metabolic disease, such as diabetes, asthma, anemia, and other blood disorders
- People with a weakened immune system due to:
- HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system
- Long-term treatment with drugs such as steroids
- Cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs
- People 6 months to 18 years of age on long-term aspirin treatment (these people could develop Reye Syndrome if they got the flu)
- Women who will be pregnant during influenza season
- Physicians, nurses, family members, or anyone else coming in close contact with people at risk of serious influenza
- Anyone else who wants to reduce their chance of catching influenza.
An annual flu shot should be considered for:
- People who provide essential community services
- People at high risk for flu complications who travel to the Southern hemisphere between April and September, or who travel to the tropics or in organized tourist groups at any time
- People living in dormitories or under other crowded conditions, to prevent outbreaks
