Top priority - health care workers

• Vaccination of health care personnel and employees of hospitals, clinics, offices and chronic care institutions who have close contact with persons in high risk groups is also a top priority

High priority - (at risk for flu complications) to be vaccinated in October and November

• Persons 50 years of age and older
• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities that house persons of any age who have chronic medical conditions
• Adults and children who have chronic disorders of the pulmonary or cardiovascular systems, including asthma
• Adults and children who have required medical follow-up or hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes mellitus), renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies, or immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications)
• Children and teenagers who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
• Women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the influenza season

Others - to be vaccinated after December 1

• Persons who are most likely to transmit influenza virus infection to high risk persons
• Persons who want to receive influenza vaccine but are at lower risk of influenza-related complications
• If you are 65 years or older you should also receive one pneumonia vaccine to protect you from developing pneumonia

You shouldn't get the vaccine if you:

• Have allergy to chicken eggs
• Have had a reaction in the past
• Are sick at the time (fever), wait until the fever is gone before getting vaccinated