FAQ

Who Should Get Vaccinated for the Seasonal Flu?
Who Should Not Be Vaccinated for the Seasonal Flu?
Who Should Get Vaccinated for Pneumococcal Disease?
Who Should Not Be Vaccinated, or Wait to Get Vaccinated, for Pneumococcal Disease?
Who should get the H1N1 Influenza Vaccine?
Should Persons with Diabetes Get the H1N1 Vaccine?
Who Should Not Get the H1N1 Vaccine?

Who Should Get Vaccinated for the Seasonal Flu?
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) provides guidance to the Secretary, HHS, and the Director, CDC regarding the most appropriate selection of vaccines and related agents for effective control of vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States.  It is recommended by ACIP that certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are either people who are at high risk of having serious seasonal flu-related complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious seasonal flu-related complications. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, ACIP makes recommendations regarding priority groups for vaccination.
People who should get the seasonal vaccine each year are:

• Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
• Pregnant women
• People 50 years of age and older
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
  • Health care workers
  • Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
  • Household contacts and caregivers of children <5 years of age with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children <6 months of age (these children are at higher risk of flu-related complications

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated for the Seasonal Flu?
There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a physician. These include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) 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.)

Who Should Get Vaccinated for Pneumococcal Disease? Pneumococcal disease is caused by Streptococcuspneumoniae bacteria. It is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable illness and death in the United States.   Pneumococcal disease can lead to serious infections of the:

• Lungs (pneumonia),
• Blood (bacteremia), and
• Covering of the brain (meningitis).

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria, including those most likely to cause serious disease.

CDC recommends the following individuals get the PPSV vaccine:

• All adults 65 years of age and older.
• Anyone 2 through 64 years of age who has a long- term health problem such as:
  • heart disease
  • lung disease
  • sickle cell disease
  • diabetes
  • alcoholism
  • cirrhosis leaks of cerebrospinal fluid or cochlear implant
• Anyone 2 through 64 years of age who has a disease or condition that lowers the body’s resistance to infection, such as:
• Hodgkin’s disease
• lymphoma or leukemia
• kidney failure
• multiple myeloma
• nephrotic syndrome
• HIV infection or AIDS
• damaged spleen, or no spleen
• organ transplant
• Anyone 2 through 64 years of age who is taking a drug or treatment that lowers the body’s resistance to infection, such as:
  • long-term steroids
  • certain cancer drugs
  • radiation therapy
• Any adult 19 through 64 years of age who:
  • is a smoker
  • has asthma

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated, or Wait to Get Vaccinated, for Pneumococcal Disease?

• Anyone who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction to PPSV should not get another dose.
• Anyone who has a severe allergy to any component of a vaccine should not get that vaccine.  Members should tell their health care professional if you have any severe allergies.
• Anyone who is moderately or severely ill when the shot is scheduled may be asked to wait until they recover before getting the vaccine.  Someone with a mild illness can usually be vaccinated.
• As a precaution, women with conditions that put them at risk for pneumococcal disease should be vaccinated before becoming pregnant, if possible.

Who should get the H1N1 Influenza Vaccine?
Groups recommended to receive the H1N1 vaccine first are:

• Pregnant women
• People who live with, or care for, infants younger than 6 months of age
• Health care and emergency medical personnel
• Anyone from 6 months through 24 years of age
• Anyone from 25 through 64 years of age with certain chronic medical conditions  or a weakened immune system

As more vaccine becomes available, these groups should also be vaccinated:

• Health 25 through 64 year olds
• Adults 65 years and older

Should Persons with Diabetes Get the H1N1 Vaccine?
There are several steps that people with diabetes should take to fight against 2009 H1N1 flu this season. CDC recommends that all people with all types of diabetes who are 6 months through 64 years of age get vaccinated with the 2009 H1N1 flu shot. As supplies of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine increase, people 65 years of age and older also should get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. All people with diabetes who are 6 months of age and older, including people 65 years of age and older, should get the vaccine “shot” for seasonal flu. They should not get the get the nasal spray vaccine. People with diabetes also should talk with their health care provider about getting a pneumonia (pneumococcal) vaccine as part of their diabetes management plan.

Who Should Not Get the H1N1 Vaccine?
You should not get the H1N1 flu vaccine if you have a severe (life-threatening) allergy to eggs or to any other substance in the vaccine.  Tell the person giving you the vaccine if you have any severe allergies.

Also let your health care provider know if you have ever had:

• A life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of seasonal flu vaccine.
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness also called GBS)

If you are moderately or severely ill, you might be advised to wait until you recover before getting the vaccine.  If you have a mild cold or other illness, there is usually no need to wait.