Who should get a flu vaccine and when?

Who should get a flu vaccine?  The CDC recommends that “everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each year.”  However, the CDC also lists these groups of people who should NOT get a flu vaccine without talking to their doctor:  people who are allergic to chicken eggs, people who have had a severe reaction to a past flu vaccine, children younger than 6 months, and people with a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome.  People who are ill and running a fever should wait until they recover before getting the flu vaccine.  

When should a person get the flu vaccine?  The CDC recommends as soon as the vaccine is available (it’s already available in October this year).  The flu vaccine comes in different forms (three types of flu shots and a nasal spray form).  For more information about the flu vaccine, see the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm#whoshould1