The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has designated this week as National Influenza Vaccination Week not only to highlight the importance of the appropriate people (that includes us – anyone over the age of 50) getting the vaccine, but also to let people know that the months of November. December and even January are not too late to get the vaccine. Why is this? Because many people believe that if they haven’t gotten their flu shot by October, it’s too late to get it. This is not true. The activity of the influenza virus does not reach its peak until February, or later depending on your location; therefore there is still a lot of time to get it.

Who specifically should get a yearly flu shot? A new recommendation of the 2008 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is that all children and adolescents between the ages of 5 years and 18 years should now be getting it. Previous to this, only children ages 6 months to 4 years, and children of other ages who have a chronic medical condition were advised to have a flu shot. What has not changed is that children below the age of 6 months are not advised to have it. In sum, children ages 6 months to 18 years should be getting a yearly flu shot.

The recommendation for which adults should get a yearly flu shot has not changed, and basically includes any adult who wants to reduce the risk of getting the flu, or of transmitting it to others. Adults who are especially advised to have the vaccination are those who are at high risk for getting the medical complications of the flu, like pneumonia and other infections with the bacteria Staph aureus, or those adults who are close contacts of others who are at high risk.

These recommendations specifically name the following groups of adults who should definitely get the flu shot every year:

• • People over the age of 50
• • People who have chronic lung, heart, liver, kidney, blood, or diabetes
• • People whose immune system is suppressed – by having cancer or HIV/AIDS, or by taking medications that suppress the immune system (steroids or chemotherapy or drugs to prevent rejection of transplanted organs)
• • People who live in nursing homes or other chronic care facilities
• • Health-care workers
• • People who live with, or are caregivers of, adults over the age of 50 or children under the age of 5 and especially under the age of 6 months
• • People who live with, or are caregivers of, others with chronic medical conditions who would be at high risk for complications if exposed to the flu

Why is getting vaccinated so important? Many people think that getting the flu is no big deal, and just amounts to a few muscle aches and pains, fever, and respiratory symptoms that go away quickly. This is definitely not always the case. For instance, during flu season last year (the 2007-2008 season), influenza was associated with a higher death rate, and with higher rates of hospitalizations in children ages 0-4 years, than in each of the three prior years. Also notable is the fact that flu season peaked in mid-February, and continued to be seen into the month of May last year.

Is there anyone who should not get the flu vaccine? Yes. If you have an allergy to egg yolks, you should not get the flu shot; this is because the vaccine itself is made up in egg yolk. Also, if you’ve had a severe reaction to the flu shot in the past, you should tell your health care provider about that. Many of these so-called “reactions” will not prevent you from receiving it again.

Today, December 9^th, is Children’s Vaccination Day, and this Thursday, December 11^th, is Seniors’ Vaccination Day (remember that Medicare pays for the flu vaccine). So, if you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet, get it! And if you know someone that hasn’t gotten it, especially if they fall into one of the groups mentioned above, remind them that it is definitely not too late in the season to get it.