Who should get the flu shot?

"High Risk"

People recommended for vaccination based on their risk of complications from influenza or because they are in close contact with someone at higher risk of influenza complications include:

• Children aged 6 months until their 5th birthday,
• People of any age with certain chronic health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease),
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities,
• Household contacts of person at high risk for complications from influenza,
• Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age, and
• Health care workers.

People who should NOT be vaccinated include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs,
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination,
• People who have developed Guillian-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine,
• Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group), and
• People who have a moderate to severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated).