This year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its list of patients who should be vaccinated early in the flu season. The list of high-risk patients who should be vaccinated early in the season, as well as individuals previously recommended for early vaccination, include:

1. High-risk patients:

• Persons 50 years or older
  
• Residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities
  
• Patients with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure
  
• Patients with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney problems, cancer, chemotherapy, long-term steroid treatment, sickle-cell disease or HIV infection
  
• Women who are pregnant during flu season
  
• Children receiving chronic aspirin therapy
  
• Individuals with neuro-muscular conditions (such as individuals with multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and spinal cord injuries)

2. Healthy children 6 months to 18 years of age, as well as children of any age with high-risk medical conditions

3. Household contacts of high-risk patients (including contacts of children 0 to 59 months of age) and out-of-home caregivers

4. Health care workers and first responders

For a complete list of patients that fall into a high-risk category and more information on the flu, visit www.cdc.gov/flu.

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