The first day of fall is three days away. The kids are back in school, temperatures are dipping lower and the leaves on the trees in LA are doing nothing. In this magical season a doctor’s thoughts turn to flu shots.
The flu shot is recommended for the following groups:
- Children aged 6 months until their 5th birthday,
- Pregnant women,
- People 50 years of age and older,
- People of any age with certain chronic health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease),
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities,
- Household contacts of person at high risk for complications from influenza,
- Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age, and
- Health care workers
The following people should NOT receive the vaccine:
- People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs,
- People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination,
- People who have developed Guillain-Barre syndrome within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine,
- Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group), and
- People who have a moderate to severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated).
For everyone else it’s optional. If you’re not in one of the above groups and want to avoid the flu, get vaccinated. Our office has received this year’s flu vaccines. If you’re a patient who wants one, please call for an appointment.
Learn more:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2008-09 Influenza Vaccine page