With fall giving way to winter, now is the time to schedule an appointment with your health care provider for your annual flu shot.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu season ranges from November to May. During the past 25 flu seasons, the CDC reported the heaviest flu activity once in November, four times in December, five times in January, 11 times in February and four times in March.
Flu vaccines are based on the current flu season guidelines published by the
Centers for Disease Control Web Site. According to the CDC, all persons, including school-aged children, who want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or spreading it to others should be vaccinated. It is strongly recommended that the following people be vaccinated each year:
Children ages 6 months through 18 years, with continued focus on those at high risk for flu complications (ages 6 months through 4 years)
Adults age 50 years and older
All women who are pregnant during the flu season
Health care workers involved in direct patient care
Household contacts and caregivers of children younger than 5 years and adults age 50 years and older, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children younger than 6 months
Household contacts of persons at high risk for severe complications from the flu
People living in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular (except hypertension), metabolic and renal disorders
Adults and children who have weakened immune systems, including those caused by medication or HIV
Adults and children who have any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries) that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions, or increase the risk for aspiration
Children and adolescents ages 6 months through 18 years who receive long-term aspirin therapy and experience Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection
Ask your primary care manager if you need a flu vaccine, which he or she may provide for you.
