● Endocrine disorders, including diabetes mellitus
● Kidney disorders
● Liver disorders
● Metabolic disorders, such as inherited disorders and mitochondrial disorders
● People with weakened immune systems due to disease or medication, such as people with HIV/AIDS, cancer patients or those on chronic steroids
● People under the age of 19 who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
● People who are morbidly obese, especially those who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater
What Can I Do?
If you fall into one of these high-risk categories, it is especially important for you to get your annual seasonal flu vaccine unless you have an allergy or medical condition that prevents you from doing so. Remember, flu vaccines may still not be effective for up to two weeks after receiving them, so if you are in a high-risk demographic, try to schedule your flu vaccine for late summer or early fall to give your body time to build up sufficient antibodies to the flu virus before it begins circulating.
The CDC distributes a weekly “FluView” report that tracks how the flu affects various populations around the country. This can help you monitor when and how hard the virus strikes in your area and may encourage you to take preventative measures.