Influenza Vaccines
What You Need to Know

Some people should NOT get a particular influenza vaccine or should wait

Inactivated Influenza Vaccine should not be given to:

  • A child who has ever had a serious allergic reaction to eggs or to a previous dose of influenza vaccine
  • A child with a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Live Intranasal Influenza Vaccine should not be given to:

  • Adults 50 years of age or older or children younger than 5
  • People who have long term health problems with heart disease, lung disease, asthma, kidney disease, metabolic disease (such as diabetes), anemia and other blood disorders
  • People with a weakened immune system due to: HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system; long term treatment with drugs that weaken the immune system (such as steroids); cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs
  • Children or adolescents on long-term aspirin treatment
  • Pregnant women
  • Anyone with a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome
  • Anyone who has ever has a serious allergic reaction to eggs or to a previous dose of influenza vaccine

If you have a fever or are severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled, you should probably wait until you recover before getting the influenza vaccine. Talk to your doctor about whether to reschedule this vaccination.

Content derived from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
and American Academy of Pediatrics Policy