It is the time of year to get the flu shot. Most of us think we don’t need it, but there’s good reason why we should get it even though we consider ourselves to be healthy.

Why

The flu can lead to pneumonia and can be dangerous for people with heart or breathing conditions. It can cause high fever, diarrhea, and seizures in children. 226,00 people are hospitalized every year and 36,000 die – mostly the elderly.

Flu viruses are always changing, therefore they are updated every year and annual vaccination is recommended.

Who Should Get Vaccinated

• All children 6 months- 18 years of age
• Anyone 50 years or older.
• Anyone at risk: Pregnant women, people iwth long-term health problems (asthma, heart disease, etc) or weakened immune system (AIDS/HIV), people with muscle or nerve disorders (cerebral palsy or seizures)
• Anyone 6 months – 18 years of age on long-term aspirin treatment
• Residents of nursing homes and other facilities
• Health care providers
• Household contacts and caregivers of children or the elderly and sick.
• People who provide community services
• People living in multi-unit communities such as dorms or wherever there are alot of people.
• People who travel to the Southern hemisphere between April-September or to the tropics with groups of people.
• People who have come into contact with others who have the flu or who may catch the flu

Who Shouldn’t Get It or Should Wait

• People with severe egg allergies (since the virus is grown in eggs)
• People with severe allergies to any vaccine
• Those who had a severe reaction after a previous dose of the flu vaccine.
• People who have or have had Guillain-Barre Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness)
• People who are moderately or severely ill should wait

Risks

Mild Problems:

• soreness, redness, swelling at shot site
• fever and aches

Severe Problems:

• Life-threatening allergic reactions are very rare. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after shot.

When

Now is the good time to get a flu, most typically between October and November. But if you get one in December or later, it’s still good for you.

Learn more about the Influenza Vaccine at the Centers for Disease and Control or call 1-800-232-4636