Who Should Get Vaccinated

On February 24, 2010 vaccine experts voted that everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each year starting with the 2010-2011 influenza season.

CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for "universal" flu vaccination in the U.S. to expand protection against the flu to more people.

While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that the following groups get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications: 

1. 1.Pregnant women
   

2. 2.Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
   

3. 3.People 50 years of age and older
   

4. 4.People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
   

5. 5.People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
   

6. 6.People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
   

1. a.Health care workers
   

2. b.Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
   

3. c.Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
   

7. For more comprehensive information about the flu vaccine, click on the following widget to go to the www.flu.gov website: