Should I Get a Flu Shot?

Are you 60-years-old or older?

Do you live in a retirement home or nursing home?

Are you a pregnant woman or have you given birth in the past 2 weeks?

Are you considered obese (do you have a body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)?

Do you smoke?

Does your daily routine include visiting crowded areas?

Have you been sick more than 3 times in the past year?

In the past, when you were affected by flu, have you had flu-related complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections or ear infections?

Did you ever have the flu and end up being hospitalized?

Do you have any chronic health condition such as diabetes, asthma or lung and heart disease?

Do you have a kidney or liver disorders?

Do you have a weakened immune system due to an illness (HIV/AIDS or cancer) or medications (chemotherapy, radiation treatment, drugs that suppress the immune system)?

The CDC recommends getting a flu shot every year. Being vaccinated will reduce your chances of getting the flu and reduce the risk of complications even if you do get sick. Contact a health professional for further information on the type of flu shot that is best suited for you. Nowadays, there are different flu shots approved for use on different groups of people (healthy adults, children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions, etc.).

Based on your answers, you have a higher than average risk of getting the flu or having flu related complications. The CDC recommends getting a flu shot every year. Being vaccinated can keep you from getting the flu as well as reducing complications even if you do get sick.