Anyone at risk for the flu should have a flu shot. This includes:
- Children ages 6 months to 4 years and 11 months
- Elderly
- Anyone living in a long term care facility
- People with weakened immune systems
- People with frequent exposure to the general public (healthcare workers, police, firefighters, etc.)
- Pregnant women
- Children ages 5 to 18 who take daily aspirin therapy
- Anyone with a chronic medical condition
- Caregivers or family members in close contact with high risk individuals
If there is no shortage of the vaccine, healthy people should also get a flu shot to reduce their risk of catching and spreading the flu.
Anyone with:
- An allergy to eggs
- Fever
- History of Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Previous adverse reaction to a flu shot
- Infants under 6 months old
Flu shots generally become available in the fall, between September and November.
You should get a flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available if you are at high risk for the flu, although December and even later is not too late to get a flu shot. The vaccine takes two weeks to become effective after it is given.
The flu vaccine is different every year because the formula is changed based on the previous year's strain of influenza virus. Therefore, it is important to get a flu shot every year.
The best place to receive your flu shot is at your doctor's office. Your doctor should know your medical history and will know if there is any reason you should not have a flu shot. Flu shots may also be available at:
- Pharmacies
- Walk in clinics
- Grocery store clinics
- Hospitals
- Local Health Department
- Check your local newspaper or the Flu Clinic Locator for flu shot clinics around your city
The flu vaccine is generally given as a shot in the upper arm or thigh (in children). It is also available as a nasal spray vaccine, but the inhaled form is not for use by children under 5 years old, people with weakened immune systems, or people with asthma.
Most side effects from the flu shot are minor. Some of the more common side effects include:
- Low grade fever
- Soreness at injection site
- Decreased energy
If you experience any:
- Severe swelling
- Difficulty breathing
- Numbness
Contact your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room, these are signs of allergy or serious complications and could be fatal.
Sources:
"Key Facts About Influenza(Flu) Vaccine." Influenza (Flu). 16OCT2006. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 16 Nov 2006.
Bren, Linda. "Influenza: Vaccination Still the Best Protection." FDA Consumer Magazine. Sep2006. US Food and Drug Administration. 16 Nov 2006.
