Who Should Get Flu Shots?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older, unless contraindicated due to severe allergies or specific medical conditions. This broad recommendation is due to influenza's ability to spread easily and cause serious illness in people of all ages, often leading to missed work, hospitalizations, or complications. Vaccination is especially important for high-risk groups, including young children, seniors, pregnant individuals, and those with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease.
Healthcare workers, caregivers, and individuals living in group settings such as nursing homes or dormitories should also be vaccinated to reduce the risk of spreading the flu to vulnerable populations. Annual vaccination is important because flu viruses change from year to year, and immunity from previous vaccinations may decline over time. Getting the flu shot each season helps protect not just the individual, but also the wider community through herd immunity, reducing the overall spread and burden of disease.
