In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can
get vaccinated. However, certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are
either people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or
people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications.
During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, the ACIP makes
recommendations regarding priority
groups for vaccination.
People who should get vaccinated each year are:
1.Everyone who wants to avoid infection from the influenza virus, including:
oChildren
aged 6 montsh –18 years,
oPregnant
women,
oPeople 50
years of age and older, and
oPeople of
any age with certain chronic medical conditions;
oPeople who
live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities.
2.People
who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
oHousehold
contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu (see above)
oHousehold
contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age
(these children are too young to be vaccinated)
oHealthcare
workers.
Use of the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
It should be noted that vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is always
an option for healthy persons aged 2-49 years who are not pregnant.
Who should
receive the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine?
The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is recommended for:
All adults ≥65 years of age;
Anyone over 2 years of age who has a long-term health problem such as; heart disease, sickle cell disease, alcoholism, lung disease, diabetes, cirrhosis, leaks of cerebrospinal fluid;
Anyone over 2 years of age who has a disease or condition that lowers the body’s resistance to infection such as: Hodgkin’s disease, kidney failure, lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, nephritic syndrome, HIV infection or AIDS, damaged spleen or no spleen, or organ transplant;
Anyone over 2 years of age who is taking any drug or treatment that lowers the body’s resistance to infection such as; long-term steroids, certain cancer drugs, radiation therapy.
CIPAC is funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and through the
support of the Immunization Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.