Should You Get A Flu Shot?
Flu is a serious contagious disease. Each year in the United States, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die from seasonal flu complications. It is important to remember that your decision about whether to get vaccinated does not only affect you. It can also impact your family, friends, co-workers and others around you.

How does the Flu spread?

Who Should Get Vaccinated?
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting seasonal flu can get a seasonal influenza vaccine. The CDC recommends the flu shot for people, including school-age children, who want to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with the flu or transmitting it to others.
Vaccination is also recommended for the following higher-risk groups:

1. Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday (and family members of small children)
   
2. Pregnant women
   
3. People 50 years of age and older
   
4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
   
5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
   
6. People who live with or care for those at high-risk for complications from flu:
   
   1. Health care workers
      
   2. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
      
   3. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
      

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated
There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a physician. These include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
  
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.
  
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine.
  
• Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group)
  
• People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.)
  

What else should I know about the Flu? Seasonal Flu Key Facts

Flu Vaccine Facts 2010-11 from CDC