Flu Shot Facts

The flu season is once again upon us, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's the leading cause of illness, hospitalizations and death in the United States. One way to protect your family is by getting a flu shot. But what age groups can get them?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the CDC both released similar new influenza vaccine recommendations for 2008-2009. The AAP recommends the influenza vaccine for the following:

All children between the ages of 6 months and 18 years

Household contacts and out-of-home care providers of children with high-risk conditions and healthy children under the age of 5

Pregnant women

Health care professionals

The CDC also recommends the flu shot for these people:

People 50 years of age and older

People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions

House contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age of are too young to be immunized

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