Who Should Get Vaccinated Against Influenza

Flu season is approaching once again.  I know there are people who say they don’t need to be vaccinated.  The very young and elderly are the most susceptible to complications from the flu that leads to hospitalization or even death.  Unless you fall into one of the categories listed below, please get immunized for those around you, if not for yourself.

The following information comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/whoshouldvax.htm

Everyone older than 6 months is recommended for flu vaccination with rare exception. The following lists include all people recommended to get the flu vaccine, those who are not recommended to receive either the flu shot or the nasal spray vaccine, and those who should take certain precautions before getting vaccinated. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have any questions regarding which flu vaccine options are best for you and your family.

All persons aged 6 months and older should be vaccinated annually, with rare exceptions.

Vaccination to prevent influenza is particularly important for persons who are at increased risk for severe complications from influenza, or who are at high risk for influenza-related outpatient, emergency department, or hospital visits. When vaccine supply is limited, vaccination efforts should focus on delivering vaccination to the following persons (no hierarchy is implied by order of listing):

·       are aged 6 months through 4 years (59 months);

·       are aged 50 years and older;

·       have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);

·       are immunosuppressed (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus);

·       are or will be pregnant during the influenza season;

·       are aged 6 months through 18 years and receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who therefore might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;

·       are residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities;

·       are American Indians/Alaska Natives;

·       are morbidly obese (body-mass index is 40 or greater);

·       are health-care personnel;

·       are household contacts and caregivers of children aged younger than 5 years and adults aged 50 years and older, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children aged younger than 6 months; and

·       are household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza.

Special Consideration:

·       People who have ever had a severe allergic reaction to eggs, or who have a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, may be advised not to get vaccinated. People who have had a mild reaction to egg—that is, one which only involved hives—may receive the flu shot with additional precautions. Make sure your healthcare provider knows about any allergic reactions. Most, but not all, types of flu vaccine contain small amount of egg.

The following groups should not receive the flu shot (TIV):

·       People who have ever had a severe allergic reaction to influenza vaccine.

·       People with a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS) that occurred after receiving influenza vaccine and who are not at risk for severe illness from influenza should generally not receive vaccine. Tell your doctor if you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Your doctor will help you decide whether the vaccine is recommended for you.

·       People who are moderately or severely ill with or without fever should usually wait until they recover before getting flu vaccine. If you are ill, talk to your doctor about whether to reschedule the vaccination. People with a mild illness can usually get the vaccine.

The following groups should not receive certain types of flu shots:

·       People under 65 years of age should not receive the high-dose flu shot.

·       People who are under 18 years old or over 64 years old should not receive the intradermal flu shot.

The following groups should not receive the nasal spray vaccine (LAIV):

·       Adults 50 years of age and older or children from 6 through 23 months of age. (Children younger than 6 months should not get either influenza vaccine.)

·       People who have ever had a severe allergic reaction to eggs. People who have had a mild reaction to egg—that is, one which only involved hives—may receive TIV (not LAIV) with additional precautions. Make sure your healthcare provider knows about any allergic reactions. Most, but not all, types of TIV flu vaccine contain small amount of egg.

·       People who have had a severe reaction to the vaccine in the past.

·       People with asthma and children younger than 5 years with one or more episodes of wheezing within the past year.

·       Pregnant women.

·       Anyone with certain muscle or nerve disorders (such as seizure disorders or cerebral palsy) that can lead to breathing or swallowing problems.

·       Anyone with a weakened immune system.

·       Anyone in close contact with someone whose immune system is so weak they require care in a protected environment (such as a bone marrow transplant unit). Close contacts of other people with a weakened immune system (such as those with HIV) may receive LAIV. Healthcare personnel in neonatal intensive care units or oncology clinics may receive LAIV.

·       Children or adolescents on long-term aspirin treatment.

·       People with a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS) that occurred after receiving influenza vaccine and who are not at risk for severe illness from influenza should generally not receive vaccine. Tell your doctor if you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Your doctor will help you decide whether the vaccine is recommended for you. Tell your doctor if you have gotten any other vaccines in the past 4 weeks.

·       Anyone with a nasal condition serious enough to make breathing difficult, such as a very stuffy nose, should get the flu shot instead.

·       People who are moderately or severely ill with or without fever should usually wait until they recover before getting flu vaccine. If you are ill, talk to your doctor about whether to reschedule the vaccination. People with a mild illness can usually get the vaccine.