2010-11 flu vaccine shipments have begun. Doctors and nurses are encouraged to begin vaccinating their patients as soon as flu vaccine is available in their area, even as early as August. See your doctor or nurse 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.
The flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. This yeara??s influenza vaccine contains three new influenza virus strains.
They are:
The 2010-11 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
On February 24, 2010 vaccine experts voted that everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each year starting with the 2010-2011 influenza season. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for "universal" flu vaccination in the U.S. to expand protection against the flu to more people.
While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, ita??s especially important that the following groups get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications: