Flu Information

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Flu Information for the Public

Many people don't realize it, but the flu is a very serious illness. Across the country this year, more than 25 million people will get the flu. Of these, more than 200,000 — many of them young children and the elderly — will be hospitalized for flu-related complications. And approximately 36,000 people will die from complications from the flu. Influenza can make people of any age ill. Although most people are ill for only a few days, some have a much more serious illness and may need to be hospitalized. Thousands of people die each year from influenza-related illnesses. Most deaths caused by influenza are in elderly people.

Who should get influenza vaccine?

Everyone in these groups should seek vaccination:

• • Everyone who wants to reduce the risk of catching influenza;
• • Adults 50 and older, especially those 65 and older;
• • Children 6-59 months of age
• • Persons of any age with chronic cardiovascular or pulmonary disorders, including asthma;
• • Persons with chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes), renal dysfunction, anemia, immunosuppressive or immunodeficiency disorders, which required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization in the past year;
• • People with certain conditions (such as neuromuscular disorders) that can cause breathing problems;
• • Pregnant women;
• • Groups, including household members and care givers, who can transmit influenza to persons at high risk;
• • Residents of nursing homes or other facilities for patients with chronic medical conditions;
• • Children and adolescents, age 6 months to 18 years, receiving long-term aspirin therapy;
• • Health care workers involved in direct patient care; and
• • Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged < 6 months.

What if I want to get the flu vaccine but I'm not in one of the groups mentioned here?

People between the ages of 2 and 49 may receive either a flu vaccination or a dose of the intranasal influenza vaccine Flumist® (PDF). See your doctor.

What can I do to protect myself from getting the flu?

• • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze - and dispose of the tissue afterward.
• • If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
• • Clean your hands after you cough or sneeze - with soap and warm water, or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
• • If you get the flu, avoid exposing others. Stay home from work or school.

When should you get influenza vaccine?

The viruses that cause influenza change often, and protection declines within a year after vaccination. So people who need the vaccine should get it every year. The vaccine begins to protect you after 1 to 2 weeks and protection may last up to one year. Influenza is most common in the U.S. from December to April, so it is best to get the vaccine in the fall. However, you can be vaccinated through March. People 9 years and older need one shot each influenza season, while children less than 9 years old will need two shots (given one month apart) during the flu season month if they are being vaccinated for the first time.

Will the vaccine keep you from getting influenza this year?

Because new influenza viruses appear every year, the effectiveness of the vaccine varies from one year to the next. Nevertheless, studies have shown that even in years when the virus is different from the previous year, people in high-risk groups who received their flu shot that year tend to have a milder illness and are less likely to be hospitalized. Also, other viruses cause diseases that seem like influenza, and the influenza vaccine does not protect against these viral infections. The vaccine contains viruses that are the same or similar to those thought to be most likely to come to the U.S. this year. Their names are:

• A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like virus (new strain); 
• A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like virus (no change); 
• B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus (no change)

All the viruses in the vaccine are killed so you cannot get influenza from the vaccine.

Can other vaccines be given at the same visit?

Yes, but in a different site. These include:

• • Pneumococcal vaccine for adults.
• • Children can receive all routinely scheduled vaccines along with the flu shot.

What are the risks from influenza vaccine?

As with any medicine, there is a very small risk that serious problems, even death, could occur after taking the vaccine. The risk from the vaccine is much smaller than the risk from the disease. Serious problems from the flu vaccine are rare.

If they occur, the problems usually start soon after the vaccination and usually last up to 1-2 days. These may include:

• • soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given.
• • fever.
• • aches.

Tell your doctor or nurse if you:

• • have a serious allergy to eggs.
• • ever had a serious allergic reaction or other problem after getting influenza vaccine.
• • were ever paralyzed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (which was linked to the swine flu vaccine in 1976 but has not been clearly linked to flu vaccinations since then).
• • now have a moderate or severe illness.

What to do if there is a serious reaction:

• • Call a doctor or get the person to a doctor right away.
• • Write down what happened and the date and time it happened.
• • Ask the doctor, nurse or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Report (VAERs) form (1-800-822-7967 or vaers.hhs.gov or call 1-212-676-2288).

For additional information or to find out where you can get a flu shot, call the toll-free NYC Department of Health's Flu Vaccination Information Line at 311.

For more information on vaccination clinics for adults or for where your child can be vaccinated, call 311.