Seasonal Influenza (Flu)

2009-10 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Updates

Questions & Answers

Vaccine Availability

Where can I find seasonal influenza vaccine?
See your health care provider to get the flu vaccine, or seek out other locations where vaccine is being offered. The following flu clinic locator is a useful tool for finding vaccine in your area and are open to the public.

ALA Flu Clinic Locator

Vaccination Protection

Will this year's vaccine protect me against the flu?

The flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. This year’s influenza vaccine contains three new influenza virus strains.

They are:

A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus;
A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;
B/Brisbane 60/2008-like antigens.

The 2009-10 influenza vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related but different influenza virus strain.

For more information about the effectiveness of flu vaccine, visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm

For more information about how the viruses in the vaccine are selected, visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/virusqa.htm

Who should get vaccinated this season?

In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, it is recommended by CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that certain people should get vaccinated each year. Most of these people are recommended for vaccination because they are at high risk of having serious flu complications or they live with or care for people at high risk for serious complications

People recommended for seasonal influenza vaccination during the 2009-10 season remain the same as the previous season:

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