The best way to protect against the flu
Is to get vaccinated
each fall.
By The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC
People who should get vaccinated each
year are
- People at high risk for complications from the
flu:
- People 65 years and older;
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care
facilities that house those with long-term illnesses;
- Adults and children 6 months and older with chronic heart
or lung conditions, including asthma;
- Adults and children 6 months and older who needed regular
medical care or were in a hospital during the previous year
because of a metabolic disease (like diabetes), chronic
kidney disease, or weakened immune system (including immune
system problems caused by medicines or by infection with
human immunodeficiency virus [HIV/AIDS]);
- Children 6 months to 18 years of age who are on long-term
aspirin therapy. (Children given aspirin while they have
influenza are at risk of Reye syndrome.);
- Women who will be pregnant during the influenza
season;
- All children 6 to 23 months of age;
People with any condition that can compromise respiratory
function or the handling of respiratory secretions (that is, a
condition that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, such as
brain injury or disease, spinal cord injuries, seizure
disorders, or other nerve or muscle disorders.)
People 50 to 64 years of age. Nearly
one-third of people 50 to 64 years of age in the United States
have one or more medical conditions that place them at
increased risk for serious flu complications.
People who can transmit flu to others at high
risk for complications. Any person in close contact
with someone in a high-risk group (see above) should get
vaccinated. This includes all health-care workers, caregivers
of children 0 to 23 months of age, and close contacts of people
65 years and older.
CDC is recommending that flu shots go to "priority
groups" to ensure that those who are at highest risk of
complications from influenza have access to vaccine this
season
- people aged 65 years and older, with and without chronic
health conditions
- residents of long-term care facilities
- people aged 2-64 years with chronic health conditions
- children aged 6-23 months
- pregnant women
- health-care personnel who provide direct patient care
- household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children
less than 6 months of age.
For the community, the CHIP website and phone lines will
have up-to-date info about flu shots, including KAISER
PERMANENTE. Their number is 1/877-FLU-0202 or
www.sdchip.org/immunize.html the
County of San Diego resources are available:
http://www.sdchip.org
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