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Influenza (sometimes called flu) is a serious disease. Here are a few
important facts:
- It spreads when influenza viruses pass from an infected person to the nose
or throat of others.
- Influenza can cause: fever, chills, headache, cough, sore throat, muscle
aches.
Influenza can make people of any age ill. Although most people are ill
for only a few days, some have a much more serious illness and may need to
be hospitalized. Thousands of people die each year from influenza-related
illnesses. Most deaths caused by influenza are in elderly people.
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People who are at risk for getting a serious case of influenza or a complication should get the vaccine. This includes: |
- All people 65 years of age or older.
- Any child or adult, including pregnant women, who has a serious long-term health problem with: heart or anemia; metabolic disease, such as diabetes or asthma; lung or kidney disease
AND in the past year had to:
- see a doctor regularly, or
- be admitted to a hospital
People who are less able to fight infections because of:
- a disease they were born with
- infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- treatment with drugs such as long-term steroids
- cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs
- Children and teenagers 6 months to 18 years of age on long-term aspirin treatment, who, if they catch influenza, could develop Reye's syndrome which causes coma, liver damage and death.
- Women who will be more than 14 weeks pregnant during the influenza season.
- Anyone who has close contact with people who are at risk for getting a serious case of influenza.
- Health care workers
- In addition, an influenza shot may be given to:
- persons who provide important community services
- anyone who wants to reduce their chance of catching influenza
It is best to get the vaccine between September and
mid-November.
Because the viruses change often, they may not always be covered by the vaccine.
But people who do get influenza after getting the vaccine often have a milder
case than those who did not get vaccinated.
As with any medicine, there are very small risks that serious problems,
even death, could occur after taking the vaccine.
The viruses in the vaccine are killed, so you
cannot get influenza from the vaccine.
Please protect yourself, your family, and those you contact by receiving the vaccine.