05/04/2023
People at Higher Risk of Flu Complications
Getting an annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from flu.
If you are at a higher risk of developing serious flu complications, flu vaccination is especially important. When you get vaccinated, you reduce your risk of getting sick with flu and possibly being hospitalised or dying from flu.
Following is a list of all the health and age factors that are known to increase a person’s risk of getting serious flu complications:
• Adults 65 years and Older
• Young Children
• Asthma
• Heart Disease and Stroke ( such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
• Children with Neurologic Conditions
• People with Disabilities
• Neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions
• Blood disorders( such as sickle cell disease)
• Chronic lung disease( such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis)
• Endocrine disorders ( such as diabetes mellitus)
• Kidney disorders
• Liver disorders
• Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders0
• People who are obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher
• People younger than 19 years old on long term aspirin or salicylate-containing medications
• People with a weakened immune system due to disease 9 such as people with HIV/AIDS or some cancers such as leukaemia) or medications ( such as those receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer, or persons with chronic conditions requiring chronic corticosteroids or other drugs that suppress the immune system)
Other people at higher risk from flu:
• Pregnant people and people up to 2 weeks after the end of pregnancy
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• People from certain racial and ethnic minority groups are at increased risk for hospitalization with flu, including non-Hispanic black persons, Hispanic or Latino persons, and American Indian or Alaska native persons
• Although all children younger than 5 years old are considered at higher risk of serious flu complications. The highest risk is for those younger than 2 years old, with the highest hospitalization and death rates among infants younger than 6 months old.
