Who should get a flu shot?

Who Should Get Vaccinated This Season?

Everyone who is at least 6 months of age should get a flu vaccine this season. It’s especially important for some people to get vaccinated. Those people include the following:

• People who are at high risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia if they get sick with the flu. This includes:
  • People who have certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.
  • Pregnant women.
  • People 65 years and older
• People who live with or care for others who are high risk of developing serious complications. This includes:
  • household contacts and caregivers of people with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.

A detailed list is available at Who Should Get Vaccinated Against Influenza. A complete list of health and age factors that are known to increase a person’s risk of developing serious complications from flu is available at People Who Are at High Risk of Developing Flu-Related Complications.

 Source: CDC

Be well for the holidays.

Flu season is just around the corner. Make sure to come in for your flu vaccination. No appointment necessary.

My child is allergic to eggs, can he/she get a flu shot?

Since the influenza vaccine is made in chicken eggs, it is possible to have egg protein exposure when receiving the vaccine. This potentially could lead to problems in a severely egg allergic child, making this a contraindication for receiving "flu shots".

However, if a child has a history of a mild egg allergy (not a recent systemic reaction), it is generally safe for him/her to get the flu shot. Recommendation suggested in kids with a history of a mild egg reaction: Give 1/10 of the flu shot at the pediatrician's or allergist's office, and wait 30 minutes. If tolerated well, administer the remainder of the vaccine and observe in the office for another 30 minutes so that treatment can be promptly rendered in the unlikely case of allergic reaction.