Flu vaccine
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a
flu vaccine each season. “Flu shots” — inactivated vaccines (containing killed
virus) that are given with a needle.
About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies
develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not
protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.
The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three
influenza viruses that research suggests will be most common.
When to
get vaccinated against seasonal flu?
Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September,
or as soon as vaccine is available, and continue throughout the flu season
which can last as late as May. This is because the timing and duration of flu
seasons vary. While flu season can begin early as October, most of the time
seasonal flu activity peaks in January, February or later.
Who should
get vaccinated?
Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu
vaccine each year.. While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season,
it’s especially important that certain people get vaccinated either because
they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because
they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related
complications.
Who is at high risk for
developing flu-related complications?
· Children
younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
· Adults
65 years of age and older
· Pregnant
women
· People
who have medical conditions including:
o Asthma
(even if it’s controlled or mild)
o Neurological
and neurodevelopmental conditions [including disorders of the brain, spinal
cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders),
stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe
developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury]
o Chronic
lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic
fibrosis)
o Heart
disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and
coronary artery disease)
o Blood
disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
o Endocrine
disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
o Kidney
disorders
o Liver
disorders
o Metabolic
disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
o Weakened
immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or
cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
o People
younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
o People
who are morbidly obese (Body Mass Index [BMI] of 40 or greater)
Who else
should get vaccinated?
Other people for whom vaccination is especially
important are:
· 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:
o Health
care workers
o Household
contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
o Household
contacts and caregivers of children younger than 5 years of age with particular
emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children younger than 6 months of age
(children younger than 6 months are at highest risk of flu-related complications
but are too young to get vaccinated)
Who
should not be vaccinated against seasonal flu?
Some people should not be vaccinated without first
consulting a physician. They include:
· People
who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
· People
who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
· Children
younger than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this
age group).
· People
who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get
vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.
· 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.
CDC
|