Updated CDC Influenza Vaccination Recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its recommendations on who should be vaccinated against influenza this season because there is not enough influenza vaccine for everyone who may want it. The influenza vaccine should be given to protect people who are most likely to have serious health problems ifthey get influenza. These people should get the vaccine:

• Children ages six to 23 months.

• People who are 65 years and older.

• People two years or older who have an underlying, long-term illness (e.g, heart disease, lung disease, metabolic disease, kidney disease), a blood disorder, or are immunocompromised.

• Women who are or will be pregnant this influenza season.

• People who live in nursing homes or chronic-care residencies.

• People who are six months to 18 years of age and take aspirin daily.

• Health care workers directly involved with patient care.

• People who have or take care of an infant younger than six months of age.

Infants younger than six months of age should not receive the influenza vaccine.

Healthy people two to 64 years of age should wait to be vaccinated or skip getting a shot this season.

Healthy people ages five to 49 years of age may receive the nasal-spray vaccine. This is a good option for people in this age group who have or care for infants younger than six months of age or for health care workers who take care of sick patients. Pregnant women and people who care for or live with someone whose immune system is very weak should not use the nasal spray.

Additional information about the influenza vaccine is available online atwww.cdc.gov.