Who Should Get a Flu Shot This Season?

iStock-1061849382_blog

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza.

Flu vaccination has important benefits. It can reduce flu illnesses, visits to doctor’s offices, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as make symptoms less severe and reduce flu-related hospitalizations and deaths.

Different flu vaccines are approved for use in different age groups.

  • There are several flu shots approved for use in people as young as 6 months old and older, and two are approved only for adults 65 years and older.
  • Flu shots also are recommended for pregnant people and people with certain chronic health conditions.
  • The nasal spray flu vaccine is approved for use in people 2 years through 49 years of age. People who are pregnant and people with certain medical conditions should not receive the nasal spray flu vaccine.

There are many vaccine options to choose from.

  • For people younger than 65 years, CDC does not recommend any one flu vaccine over another.
  • For adults 65 years and older, there are three flu vaccines that are preferentially recommended for people 65 years and older. These are Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine, Flublok Quadrivalent recombinant flu vaccine, and Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted flu vaccine. If none of the three flu vaccines preferentially recommended for people 65 and older is available at the time of administration, people in this age group can get any other age-appropriate flu vaccine instead.

The most important thing is for all people 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine every year.

If you have questions about which flu vaccine to get, talk to your doctor or other health care professional. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccinations.htm

Want more stories like this? Subscribe to our E-newsletter

Subscribe

CRH banner

CRH News

  • CRH Receives Platinum Award for Chest Pain Treatment

    Oct 24, 2024, 15:36 by DeClue, A.
    Hospitals, such as Columbus Regional, that have earned ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have primary PCI available 24/7 every day of the year.
    Full story
  • Columbus Regional Health Releases Results of Triennial Health Survey

    Oct 22, 2024, 13:24 by DeClue, A.
    The information gathered will be used to inform decisions and guide efforts by CRH and CRH’s Healthy Communities Initiative to improve community health and wellness, ensure adequate and equitable access to health services, and surface health disparities.
    Full story
  • CRH Occupational Health Services to Relocate Practice

    Oct 2, 2024, 12:55 by DeClue, A.
    Beginning Oct. 28, patients of Occupational Health Services will be seen at 3015 10th Street, Suite A in Columbus, which formerly housed Family and Internal Medicine. The phone number of 812-376-5104 remains the same. The new Occupational Health Services location offers a larger space with more parking.
    Full story
  • CRH Breast Health Center Receives National Award for Quality

    Sep 27, 2024, 12:02 by DeClue, A.
    As a recognized leader in the healthcare intelligence space, PRC received more than 200 nominations across multiple categories for the Healthcare Leadership awards. The Breast Health Center was recognized with a Quality of Care Award.
    Full story
  • Columbus Regional Health Announces Retirement of Chief Medical Officer

    Sep 24, 2024, 10:05 by DeClue, A.
    After 35 years with the organization, Dr. Tom Sonderman, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Columbus Regional Health, has announced his intent to retire from the role on March 31, 2025. He has served as Chief Medical Officer for 21 years.
    Full story
  • CRH Introduces Multidisciplinary Breast Health Program

    Sep 4, 2024, 10:50 by Newton, A.
    Columbus Regional Health is pleased to introduce the best in coordinated, cross-specialty breast care through our new Multidisciplinary Breast Health Program. The program brings all the medical specialties involved in breast cancer care—from diagnosis to treatment, and beyond—together at one table. Literally.
    Full story