Medical Health Encyclopedia

Influenza vaccine

IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, anyone who wants to reduce their risk of the flu can get a flu shot. The flu shot is approved for anyone older that 6 months of age. Some people have a higher risk of the disease. You should be vaccinated each year if you:

• Are 50 or older
• Have chronic lung or heart disease
• Have sickle cell anemia and other hemoglobinopathies
• Live in a nursing home or extended care facilities
• Live in any type of housing where there are chronic health problems
• Have kidney disease, anemia, severe asthma,  diabetes, or chronic liver disease
• Have a weakened immune system (including those with cancer or HIV/AIDS)
• Receive long-term treatment with steroids for any condition
• Expect to be past the 3rd month of pregnancy during the flu season (you may want to consider requesting the mercury-free flu vaccine)

Children and teenagers receiving long-term aspirin therapy and children between the age of 6 months and 2 years should also receive a flu shot each year. Mercury-free vaccines are preferred in younger children.

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The flu shot is also recommended for health care providers who work in high-risk settings and direct contacts or caretakers of high-risk individuals.

The flu shot is encouraged for:

• People who have in-home contact with infants who are younger than 6 months old
• People who provide essential community services
• People living in dormitories or other crowded conditions
• Anyone who wants to reduce their change of getting influenza

Children under age 9 require two shots one month apart the first time that they receive influenza vaccine. Older children and adults only require a single shot each year.

BENEFITS

Most people achieve protection from the flu approximately 2 weeks after receiving the vaccine.

Immunization of high-risk people reduces the risk of death from the flu. Immunization of those caring for high-risk people reduces the risk of spreading the disease to other people who may have a higher than average risk for complications.