Get Ready for Flu Season!

Do not panic. Fears of an H1N1 epidemic have been wildly exaggerated. However, if you come into contact with large numbers of people in your practice, it's a good idea to get vaccinated.

This year there's is both a seasonal flu vaccine and an H1N1, with different vaccination protocols. For information on where to get vaccinated in New York City, go to the New York City Influenza Information site.

People who should get the seasonal vaccine each year are:

1. Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
2. Pregnant women
3. People 50 years of age and older
4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
6. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
   1. Health care workers
   2. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
   3. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated.)

The H1N1 flu vaccine will be given to certain high risk groups first when it becomes available. The list is different than for the seasonal flu:

1. pregnant women
   
2. people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
   
3. healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
   
4. persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
   
5. people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.