People at High Risk for the Flu
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following individuals are at highest risk for complications from influenza (the flu) and should receive the flu vaccine early in the flu season, usually in September or October.
People at High Risk for Developing Flu-Related Complications
- Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
- Adults 65 years of age and older
- Pregnant women
- Native Americans and Alaskan natives
- Asthma
- Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions. This includes disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury.
- Chronic lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis
- Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
- Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
- Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
- Kidney disorders
- Liver disorders
- Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
- Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS or cancer or those on chronic steroids)
- People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
- People who are morbidly obese (Body Mass Index, or BMI, of 40 or greater)
- Household contacts of high-risk patients (especially contacts of infants less than six months)
- Health care workers
- Daycare and preschool workers
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