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Flu Info

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Every year in the United States, on average 5-20% of the population becomes infected with influenza virus. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from influenza complications and about 36,000 people die from influenza. Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza and its severe complications. Anyone who wants to reduce their risk for getting influenza should be vaccinated during each influenza season. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for the following groups:

 

     Persons at high risk for influenza-related complications and severe disease, including:

         ~children aged 6-59 months

         ~pregnant women

         ~persons aged ≥ 50 years and

         ~persons of any age with certain chronic medical conditions

 

     Persons who live with or care for persons at high risk, including:

         ~household members in frequent contact with persons at high risk and who can transmit influenza to

           those persons at high risk and

         ~health-care workers.