Immunization Section

Recommendations for Influenza Vaccine Use, 2009-2010

People 6 months of age and older at risk for getting a serious case of influenza or influenza complications, and people in close contact with them (including all household members) should get the vaccine.

An annual flu shot is recommended for:

  • All children 6 months through 19 years of age.
  • Household contacts and out of home caretakers of children less than 6 months of age.
  • All people 50 years of age or older.
  • Residents of long-term care facilities housing persons with chronic medical conditions.
  • People who have long-term health problems with:
    • heart disease,
    • kidney disease,
    • lung disease,
    • metabolic disease, such as diabetes, and
    • anemia, and other blood disorders
  • People with any condition (e.g. cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders) that can:
    • Compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions
    • Increase the risk for aspiration
  • People with weakened immune systems due to:
    • HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system,
    • Long-term treatment with drugs such as steroids, and
    • Cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs
  • People 6 months to 18 years of age on long-term aspirin treatment (these people could develop Reye Syndrome if they got the flu).
  • Women who will be pregnant during influenza season.
  • Physicians, nurses, family members, or anyone else coming in close contact with people at risk of serious influenza.
  • Anyone else who wants to reduce their chance of catching influenza.

Annual flu shot could be considered for:

  • People who provide essential community services.
  • People at high risk for flu complications who travel to the Southern hemisphere between April and September, or who travel to the tropics or in organized tourist groups at any time.
  • People living in dormitories or under other crowded conditions, to prevent outbreaks.

Talk with a doctor before getting a flu shot if you:

  1. ever had a serious allergic reaction to eggs or to a previous dose of influenza vaccine, or
  2. have a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

If you have a fever or are severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled, you should probably wait until you recover before getting influenza vaccine. Talk to your doctor or nurse about whether to reschedule the vaccination.

§ MMWR July 13, 2007/vol. 56/RR-6. The complete reports and other information on influenza can be accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5606.pdf.