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Flu Facts
Who Should Get Vaccinated?
Although anyone who wants to avoid the flu can get vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that certain groups of people get vaccinated because they are at higher risk of complications from the flu or because they provide care to those at risk.
For seasonal flu:
· Children aged 6 months to 19 years
· Pregnant women
· People 50 years of age and older
· People with certain chronic medical conditions
· People who live in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes
· Health care workers
· People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including caregivers of children less than 6 months old
For H1N1 flu:
· Pregnant women
· Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
· Healthcare workers
· All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
· People aged 25 through 64 years with certain chronic health conditions
Flu Warning Signs
According to the CDC, anyone who has these emergency warning signs should get medical care immediately.
In children:
· Fast breathing or difficulty breathing
· Bluish or grayish skin color
· Not drinking enough fluids
· Not waking up or not interacting
· Being so irritable that he or she does not want to be held
· Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough
· Fever with a rash
In adults:
· Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
· Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
· Sudden dizziness or confusion
· Severe or persistent vomiting
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