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Flu season is just around the corner

Did you know that October and November are the most effective times to have the flu vaccination?  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the flu causes an average 36,000 deaths and 114,000 hospitalizations in this country each year.  Most of those occur in the elderly.

The flu shot is recommended for the following groups of people:

• persons over 50 years of age
• persons who reside in nursing homes or long-term care facilities
• others residing in institutional settings, such as college dormitories
• children over 6 months of age who have chronic illnesses
• pregnant women (over 3 months)
• health care workers
• public safety workers

The flu shot can be administered to most individuals over the age of 6 months who want to lower their chances of getting the flu.

However, there are certain people who should NOT get the shot:

• People who have ever had a severe allergic reaction to eggs
• People who have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous flu shot
• Have a history of Guillain-Barréé Syndrome (GBS)

Although the flu shot will not necessarily prevent someone from getting sick, it should greatly minimize potential complications, especially in high-risk groups.

For more information about the flu, visit the Health Library Flu page.

Visit the CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Influenza Flu Homepage for more information on the flu vaccine.

Officials discount flu vaccine recall rumor

Rumors that the government has recalled certain lots of this season's flu vaccine are false, say officials with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 

According to a statement released by the two agencies, recent reports of some people having allergic reactions to the vaccine may be the source of the rumor.

Although allergic reactions occasionally do occur, they are rare and pose less of a risk to public health than the risk of getting the flu.  Nonetheless, the FDA and CDC say they are investigating any reports of serious allergic reactions to the vaccine.

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