Should You Get a Flu Shot?

Flu season is here. Luckily, flu vaccination is widely available and it’s a proven way to prevent or lessen the severity of this unpleasant – and potentially dangerous – illness.

If you’re not sure what type of flu vaccination you should get, here is some guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Who Should be Vaccinated against Seasonal Flu?

With only a few exceptions, the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated against the flu.

• If you’re 65 or younger and generally healthy: you should get a flu shot.
• If you’re over age 65 or immunocompromised: consider getting a high-dose flu shot for additional protection. Ask your doctor about availability.
• If you’re pregnant: catching flu during pregnancy can put you and your baby at risk. Plan to get a flu shot.
• If you have asthma or a chronic illness like diabetes or heart disease: you are at higher risk for flu complications. Plan to get a flu shot.

When to Talk to Your Doctor

• If you have an egg allergy: at one time, people with severe egg allergies were recommended to avoid flu shots or take special safety precautions. This is no longer the case. Studies have shown that the small amount of egg protein that may be present in some types of flu vaccine is not enough to cause an allergic reaction in most people. If you have questions about your specific situation, talk to your doctor.
• If you had an allergic reaction to a previous flu shot, you may be able to get a different type of vaccine without problems. Talk to your doctor to learn more about your options.
• If you have had Guillain-Barré Syndrome: talk to your doctor before getting a flu shot, as some people with a history of this illness should not get a flu vaccine.

Reason Not to be Vaccinated Against Flu

• If you have a severe allergy to another flu shot ingredient: if you have severe allergies to any other vaccine ingredient – including gelatin or antibiotics – you should not get a flu shot.

Wondering how to get your flu vaccination? Several options are available for Memorial Care patients.