Who Should Get the Seasonal Flu Shot and CDC Recommends Additional Boosters for Certain Individuals”>COVID-19 Boosters?
As we navigate through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and approach the upcoming flu season, health authorities worldwide are emphasizing the importance of vaccinations. Here’s a guide on who should prioritize getting their seasonal flu shot and COVID-19 boosters.
Seasonal Flu Vaccination:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and older. However, some groups are at higher risk of flu complications and should make getting vaccinated a top priority:
- Children aged 6 months to 5 years
- Adults aged 50 years and older
- Pregnant women (and women up to two weeks postpartum)
- Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- American Indians and Alaska Natives
- People with certain chronic health conditions (like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, etc.)
- Healthcare workers
- Caregivers of children aged 6 months to 10 years
COVID-19 Boosters and Additional Doses:
For COVID-19, the CDC recommends that the following groups receive additional primary doses or boosters:
- People aged 12 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should receive an additional primary dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) after the first two doses.
- Everyone aged 12 and older who received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine should get an additional (booster) dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months after their initial vaccination.
- Everyone aged 18 and older who received their second dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months prior should get a booster shot. Additionally, people aged 50 and older, and those aged 18 and older who are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness due to underlying medical conditions or where exposure to the virus is high, are encouraged to receive a second booster dose at least 4 months after their first.
Stay proactive in protecting yourself and others this season by getting your vaccinations as recommended. Consult your healthcare provider or local health department for more information tailored to your specific needs. Together, we can reduce the burden of respiratory illnesses this year.
