Flu / Pneumo Information

*Who should get a flu vaccination?

Anyone can get the flu. At most risk of complications from influenza are: people with a chronic disease such as diabetes, heart conditions or asthma, people over age 50, residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, pregnant women. Flu shots are recommended for health care workers and persons (including household members) in close contact with persons at high risk . Influenza vaccine also can be administered to any person over 6 months of age to reduce the possibility of becoming infected with influenza.

*What are the risks from flu vaccine?

Most people have no side effects from the vaccination. Flu shots are given by injection, usually into a muscle of the upper arm. This may cause soreness for a day or two at the injection site and occasionally may also cause a fever or achiness for one or two days. Unlike the 1976 swine flu, recents shots have not been linked to the paralytic illness Guillian Barre syndrome. As is the case with most drugs or vaccines, there is a possibility that allergic or more serious reactions, or even death, could occur with the flu shot. These serious reactions are extremely rare and most likely linked to residual egg protein in the vaccine.BACK