The American Academy of Pediatrics has released its updated recommendations regarding the flu vaccine.

Specifically, they are urging parents and caregivers to make sure all babies, children, and adolescents 6 months old and older receive the vaccine.

In addition, the Academy is emphasizing that the following high risk groups get the vaccine:

*all family members
*household contacts and all daycare home providers of those under the age of 5
*Kids who have asthma, diabetes and/or neurological disorders
*health care workers
*pregnant women

Last year, two vaccines were recommended, as the vaccine for seasonal flu was developed prior to the H1N1 vaccine; this year, only one trivalent vaccine is available.  This new vaccine contains the 2009 influenza pandemic flu strain (H1N1) in combination with two other strains.

For those of us who do not fall under a high risk category, there are still a plethora of reasons why getting a flu shot is a good idea.
Great strides have been made in eradicating illnesses that formerly disabled communities with seasonal pandemics – many such diseases, such as smallpox, diphtheria, cholera, and typhoid have all but been entirely eradicated.

Despite these monumental strides, medical researchers still have not ultimately mastered the enigma that is the influenza virus.  And, although the flu virus isn’t as life threatening as the above mentioned diseases, complications of the virus can be. 

The incubation period for the flu is 1-3 days; however, once the symptoms begin to appear, they render their victims bedridden for up to a week or more.  Hallmark signs of the illness are high fever, muscle aches, sore throat and cough.

It takes a strong immune system to fight the flu; by the time the virus has wreaked full havoc on a patient, the epithelial cells that surround and protect the lungs have been severely damage, leaving a fertile breeding ground for pneumonia-causing bacteria.

And herein lies the biggest seasonal influenza threat: bacterial pneumonia can quickly take over lungs weakened and damaged by the flu.  Although pneumonia is treatable, it is not entirely risk free, especially among older citizens.

Ninety percent of all seasonal flu related deaths are among the elderly who have succumbed to pneumonia.