Persons Recommended for Seasonal Influenza Vaccination
Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated against the flu. Vaccination should begin as soon as the 2011-2012 season vaccine is available.
Vaccination to prevent influenza is particularly important for persons who are at increased risk for severe complications from influenza or at higher risk for influenza-related outpatient, emergency department, or hospital visits. When vaccine supply is limited, vaccination efforts should focus on delivering vaccination to the following persons:
- all children aged 6 months--4 years (59 months);
- all persons aged 50 years or older;
- adults and children who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma) or cardiovascular (except isolated hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurological, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
- adults and children who have immune system suppression (including immune system suppression caused by medications or by HIV);
- children and adolescents (aged 6 months--18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;
- residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities;
- American Indians/Alaska Natives;
- persons who are morbidly obese (BMI =40);
- health care personnel;
- household contacts and caregivers of children younger than 5 years and adults aged 50 years or older, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children younger than 6 months; and
- household contacts (including children) and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza.
