While some people are still recovering from their busy summers, flu season is just around the corner and flu vaccines are now available around the country.
Each year in the U.S., an estimated five to 20 percent of the population gets the flu. Symptoms of the contagious respiratory illness can range between mild and severe, and can be life threatening. Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect yourself from the flu.
A record number of flu vaccine doses (over 140 million) have been created for use in the United States in the 2008-2009 season, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The Department of Defense has secured over 3.5 million doses, as influenza vaccinations are required for all active duty, National Guard and Reserve service members.
Anyone may receive a flu vaccination, but some people are at a higher risk for the flu. Changes to federal guidelines this year added children ages 5-18 to the groups recommended to receive flu vaccination. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP) recommends that the following groups should receive this year’s influenza vaccination:
– All children from 6 months through 18 years of age
– Anyone 50 years of age or older
– Anyone who is at risk of complications from influenza, or more likely to require medical care
– Women who will be pregnant during influenza season
– Anyone with long-term health problems
– Anyone with a weakened immune system
– Anyone 6 months through 18 years of age on long-term aspirin -treatment
– Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities
– Anyone who lives with or cares for people at high risk for influenza-related complications
– Household contacts and caregivers of children from birth up to 5 years of age and people 50 years and older
The panel recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2008-2009 influenza season in the U.S. contain the following:
• an A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus;
• an A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;
• a B/Florida/4/2006-like virus.