2019-2020 Flu Season is Here!

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has published its summary of recommendations for the annual influenza vaccine for the 2019-2020 season. The CDC is recommending health care providers to:

  • Continue to administer influenza vaccine this season to everyone 6 months of age and older.
  • Make sure to immunize people at high-risk for influenza complications (e.g., pregnant women, people with immunocompromised conditions, obese adults, and people with chronic conditions, including diabetes, asthma, heart disease, etc.)
  • Immunize as soon as possible those children aged 6 months through 8 years who require 2 doses, in order to administer the second dose (at an interval of at least 4 weeks later) by the end of October

Althogh vaccination by the end of October is recommended, the CDC says that vaccine administered later is still beneficial as influenza viruses circulate year round. Health care facilities will begin receiving flu vaccine soon and the CDC recommends the vaccine be available until the last dose expires, which is typically June 30.

There have been 10 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza in Arizona within the past week.

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