After the shortages and delays of flu vaccine the last few years, everyone is looking forward to an ample supply of seasonal flu vaccine this year.

That shouldn't be a problem, as it is predicted that 162 million doses of flu vaccine will be available this year.

Who Needs a Flu Shot?

So who 'needs' a flu shot according to the latest recommendations?

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices now recommends a yearly flu vaccine for all persons who are at least six months old.

This is the latest recommendation, adding healthy adults between the ages of 19 and 49, to the list of people who should get routine flu vaccine each year.

Although a flu shot is now recommended for everyone, it is especially important for those at high risk of complications from the flu, including:

• children aged 6 to 59 months
  
• pregnant women
• all persons aged 50 years and older
  
• residents of long-term care facilities
  
• children and adults with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, seizures, immunodeficiency, etc.
  
• children and teens who are receiving long term aspirin therapy

Other people who should get a yearly flu shot include:

• health-care personnel who provide direct patient care
  
• household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children aged < 5 years or other people who are at high risk of complications of the flu

But remember that with the latest recommendations, all persons at least six months old are supposed to get a flu vaccine now.

Keep in mind that that healthy kids over age two may be able to get FluMist, the nasal spray flu vaccine, instead of a flu shot though.

Is it too late for a Flu Shot?

Although it is usually recommended that you get a flu shot in October or November, experts now recommend that kids get their flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available. It isn't too late to get one even now though, as a late flu shot can still protect you for the rest of flu season, which can often last into April or May.

Flu Activity Reports

This week's CDC flu report has been released and shows that flu activity is beginning to increase, including that:

• Regional influenza activity was reported by one state.
• Four states (an increase from two states last week) reported local influenza activity.
• Forty states (an increase from 37 states last week) reported sporadic influenza activity.
• Only five states (a decrease from 10 states last week), the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported no influenza activity.

Other flu related news includes that:

• you can follow flu activity report using Google flu trends, which is now reporting a moderate level of seasonal flu activity in the United States.
• Tamilfu and Relenza still work well for seasonal flu, but should usually just be used for high risk patients, such as those with chronic medical problems, young children, or those with severe flu symptoms that require hospitalization.
• the 2009 H1N1 swine flu virus is included in this year's seasonal flu shot
• the WHO declared an end to the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic on August 10, 2010
  

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