Should You Get a Flu Shot?

Anyone who wants to reduce their chance of getting the flu should consider being vaccinated against the flu.

However, it is especially important for the following groups of individuals to get a flu shot, according to Evan T. Bell, M.D., and Marcia Kielhofner, M.D.:

Individuals with chronic heart and lung disease. The flu virus can aggravate these conditions to the point of causing serious complications and even death.

People over the age of 65, especially if living in a nursing home or chronic-care facility. Viruses spread more rapidly in such environments. What’s more, the flu virus attacks the already weakened immune systems of elderly people, which can lead to pneumonia and even death.

People with other chronic diseases, such as asthma, diabetes, kidney disease, or cancer. Any time the body is fighting one disease, getting another illness can cause serious problems.

Children who take aspirin regularly for problems such as chronic arthritis. Again, Reye’s syndrome may be

triggered by the flu virus in children who are on aspirin therapy.

Health-care providers. While catching the flu may not seriously endanger these individuals, it can be deadly to the patients they are treating

Pregnant women who fall into any of the high-risk groups mentioned. The vaccine must be given after the first trimester of the pregnancy to prevent the possibility of harming the fetus