What is influenza? 

It’s a few days of fever, cough, headache, muscle ache, and extreme fatigue—and sometimes other problems with the chest, nose, and throat. For somepeople, it is much worse. Influenza puts some people in hospital beds. And, unfortunately, in epidemic years, influenza puts thousands in the grave.

What causes influenza?

A virus. It spreads from person to person. It spreads when someone coughs or sneezes. A person can have a mild infection—so mild they don’t realize they’re infected—and still spread influenza to you.

How can you prevent influenza?

Get the vaccine.  You need a new shot every year.

Why is the vaccine late this year?

The influenza virus changes from year to year. So they need to change the vaccine every year. This year they had trouble manufacturing the vaccine. Some of the vaccine is available already. But some of it will be coming
later than usual.

If the vaccine is late this year, what can I do about it?

Step 1. Find out if you’re at high risk for influenza complications.
"High-risk" includes you if you:

-are 65 or older
-live in a nursing home or similar place
-have heart disease or lung disease, including asthma
-see a physician regularly for a problem like diabetes,   serious kidney  disease (transplant or dialysis), hemoglobin   problem (like sickle cell disease), or immune system   problem (like HIV or getting chemotherapy)
-are a child taking aspirin for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
-are a woman who will be in the second or third trimester
of pregnancy between December 1 and March 1

Step 2. Ask yourself if you spend time with high-risk patients.
That includes you if you:

-are a healthcare worker
-live in the same household as a high-risk patient

Step 3. If you are high-risk . . . or spend time with high-risk patients, talk to your physician. You have priority for vaccine.

Step 4. Otherwise, wait. Let high-risk patients . . . or those who spend time with them get the vaccine first.

Where can I learn more about influenza?

Check with our nation’s public health experts. These experts have devoted their careers to problems like influenza.