Who should receive a flu vaccination?
Vaccines will be available this year to protect against seasonal flu. Children 6 months through 18 years of age, people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes), and everyone age 50 and older should be vaccinated against seasonal flu as early as possible. Testing of the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine is in progress. The vaccine should be available in the fall of 2009. Certain groups at higher risk for complications from this flu are recommended to get the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine when it first becomes available. These groups include: pregnant women, people who live with and care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years (this includes most students attending institutions of higher education), and people ages 25–64 years of age who have chronic health conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes) or compromised immune systems.
