Flu Shots
Dear Alta Bates Medical Group members,
Flu season is just around the corner. The best way to prevent this serious disease from sending you to bed this winter is to get a flu shot now. The flu shot is the only immunization that needs to be repeated each and every year. The protection does not carry over from year to year. This year for the first time the the CDC strongly recommends vaccinations for everyone, with a special emphasis on vaccinating children for the first time. Children who have never had a flu shot need 2 shots, so it is best to get the series started early. There is no shortage of vaccine this year, so we do not have to prioritize who gets the vaccine. It is recommended and available for everyone.
It is especially important for those in high risk groups to get their flu shot:
1. People at high risk for complications from the flu, including:
- Children aged 6–59 months
- Pregnant women
- People 50 years of age and older
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
- People who live in nursing homes/long-term care facilities
2. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
- Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
- Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
- Healthcare workers
Please make an appointment with your Primary Care Physician or, to receive a free flu vaccination, visit a local Flu Clinic. To locate a Flu Clinic, please click here: Locate a Flu Clinic