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    • H1N1 Information
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    • FAQs About Flu Vaccine Availability
    • In the News: Flu Articles
    • Sutter Health Flu Resources

High-Risk Patients and Their Contacts

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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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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has useful resources about flu shots and updates about the flu season (accessed December 2007).

  • Q & A: Flu Vaccine
  • Q & A: Flu Vaccine
  • Vaccination Information (.pdf) | Additional languages
  • Thimerosal and the Flu Vaccine
  • Key Facts About the Flu: Overview
  • CDC Flu Web Site
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