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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

 
 
 
 
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