I Have HIV - Should I Get the Flu Vaccine?

Who should get the flu vaccine? Obviously those people deemed high risk should be the first in line. Are people living with HIV considered to be at high risk for acquiring the flu? Simply put the answer is yes...here are the high risk categories:

• All children aged 6 to 23 months
• Adults aged 65 years and older
• persons aged 2 to 64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions
• chronic disorders of the pulmonary or cardiovascular systems, including asthma;
• have required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes mellitus), renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies, or immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus [HIV])
• All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
• Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
• Children aged 6 months to 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy
• Health-care workers involved in direct patient care
• Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged less than 6 months.

If you or someone you know fit one of these groups, talk to your doctor about getting the injectable flu vaccine.

WARNING!
People with compromised immune systems such as people living with HIV can not receive the inhaled flu vaccine. This type contains live flu virus which could have serious consequences if taken by someone infected with HIV. It can't be overstated - HIV infected people MUST receive the injectable flu vaccine.