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The
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP),
an arm of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention in Atlanta (CDC) has released updated
recommendations for who should receive influenza
vaccinations. Annual vaccination against influenza
is recommended for:
-
all
persons, including school-aged children, who
want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with
influenza or of transmitting influenza
to others
-
all
children aged 6–59 months (i.e., 6 months–4
years);
-
all
persons aged >50 years;
-
children and adolescents (aged 6 months–18
years) receiving long-term aspirin therapy who
therefore might be at risk for experiencing Reye
syndrome after influenza virus infection;
-
women who are or will be pregnant during the
influenza season; injectable flu vaccine can be
given at any time during flu season
-
adults and children who have chronic pulmonary
(including asthma), cardiovascular (except
hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological or
metabolic disorders (including diabetes
mellitus);
-
adults and children who have immune system
problems (including immunosuppression caused by
medications, treatments or by human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV);
-
adults and children who have any condition
(e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord
injuries, seizure disorders, or other
neuromuscular disorders) that can compromise
respiratory function or the handling of
respiratory secretions or that can increase the
risk for aspiration;
-
residents of nursing homes and other
chronic-care facilities;
-
ALL
health-care personnel;
-
healthy household contacts (including children)
and caregivers of children aged <5 years and
adults aged >50 years, with particular emphasis
on vaccinating contacts of children aged <6
months; and
-
healthy household contacts (including children)
and caregivers of persons with medical
conditions that put them at higher risk for
severe complications from influenza.
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