Health officials advise certain groups to get a flu shot every year. These include: adults 50 and older, pregnant women, children between the ages of six months and five years, and anyone with a medical condition that raises the risk of complications. It is also best for people who are around high-risk individuals – like day-care workers and parents of young children – to get vaccinated. Health care professionals who have contact with patients should be vaccinated as well. 

For the needle-shy, there is also a nasal spray flu vaccine called FluMist^®. It is only recommended for healthy, non-pregnant people ages 5 – 49.  It differs from the flu shot in that it contains weakened, live flu viruses instead of dead ones. 

For more information, please reference these helpful resources:

• Key Facts About Seasonal Flu
• Common Myths About Immunizations and Vaccines
• What You Can Do About the Flu