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Influenza and Flu Shot Facts

What is influenza?

Influenza is a serious respiratory disease caused by a virus. It is not the same as the common cold or an intestinal illness.

Influenza causes an average of 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations yearly in the U.S. Annually, 5-20% of the U.S. population gets infected.

Vaccination is usually 70-90% effective in preventing influenza in healthy adults and children. Its effectiveness may be lower if the circulating influenza viruses are not matched by the vaccine strains, but vaccinated persons will likely have milder illness.

Unvaccinated healthy people who get influenza can spread their infection to others who are most vulnerable to its complications.

Who is specifically recommended to get annual flu shots?

All persons age 50 years and older.

All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season.

Adults and children with any of the following conditions:

• A chronic heart or lung disorder (such as asthma, COPD, hypertension, angina, etc)

• Anyone with diabetes

• A chronic disease of the blood, liver, kidneys or immune system

All healthcare personnel

All residents and workers in nursing homes or other chronic-care facilities

All children and teens ages 6 months through 18 years

All household contacts (including children) and caregivers of children aged 0-59 months, adults 50 and older, and other persons having high-risk medical conditions.

Persons planning to travel to an area of the world with influenza activity.

The bottom line is that because any unvaccinated healthy person can spread their infection to those at much higher risk, vaccination is now recommended for ALL persons age 6 months and older.

Note: Children under the age of 9 years who have never had a prior flu shot need a second shot one month after the first shot to be fully immunized.

Who should NOT have a flu shot?

Anyone who has had an allergic (anaphylactic) reaction to eggs, to a previous dose of influenza vaccine or one of its components, should not get the flu shot. Minor illnesses with or without fever do not contraindicate use of the influenza vaccine.

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