Influenza vaccination priorities

The influenza (flu) vaccine is recommended for persons at high risk for serious complications from influenza virus infection.</P> This includes:</P> > >Everyone age 50 or more; >Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that house persons of any age who have long-term illnesses; >Adults and children over 6 months of age who have chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma; >Adults and children over 6 months of age who need regular medical care or had to be in a hospital because of metabolic diseases (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease, or weakened immune system (including immune system problems caused by medicine or by infection with human immunodeficiency virus [HIV/AIDS]); >Children starting at 6 months and teenagers up to 18 years who are on long-term aspirin therapy and therefore could develop Reye syndrome after the flu; >Women who will be more than 3 months pregnant during the flu season.

>People in close or frequent contact with anyone at high risk, including: > >Doctors, nurses, and other employees in hospitals and doctors' offices, including emergency response workers; >Employees of nursing homes and long-term care facilities who have contact with patients or residents; >Employees of assisted living and other residences for people in high-risk groups; >People who provide home care to those in high-risk groups; >Household members (including children) of people in high-risk groups.

</LI></UL> >The following groups of people should NOT get a flu shot before talking with their doctor: > >People who are have a severe allergy to hens' eggs >People who have had a severe reaction to a flu shot in the past >People who previously developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in the 6 weeks after getting a flu shot </LI></UL></LI></UL>