Everyone 6 months old and older should get a flu vaccine every year.
Here are some things to consider when making a decision about whether to get a flu vaccine. Every year, the flu causes an average of 36,000 deaths and
more than 200,000 flu-related hospitalizations.
Are you young and healthy?
• Getting a flu vaccine is a part of a healthy lifestyle, just like eating well and exercising.
• It protects others. Even if you don’t get very sick with the flu, you can still give it to someone who is at higher risk of serious illness.
Are you pregnant?
• During pregnancy your immune system changes and you can’t fight the flu easily. You’ll have a higher risk of serious flu complications.
• Unborn babies can be seriously harmed by the flu.
• There also is a risk of pregnancy loss.
Do you have diabetes?
• If you have diabetes and get the flu, you are at risk of serious complications.
• Diabetes makes it harder for your body to fight germs and sickness. The flu also can make your
diabetes worse.
• Getting sick can make it harder for your body to control blood sugar.
• About 30 percent of those who are hospitalized with the flu have diabetes.
Do you have asthma or COPD?
• People who have asthma or COPD are at risk of serious flu complications.
• Your airways are already sensitive and swollen. The flu can make this worse.
• Flu in the lungs can cause asthma attacks and make your symptoms worse.
• You also are more likely to get pneumonia after the flu than those who don’t have asthma.
If you have questions about the flu or the flu shot, email [email protected] or call 1-800-355-0885. We are available Monday
through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. MT.
KnovaSolutions® is a clinical prevention service to help Alliance Health Plan members better understand and manage their medical care, treatments, and medications via telephone and email. The KnovaSolutions clinical team focuses on the member as a whole, not just the health complications they may be facing, by providing access to health information and support in making the best health decisions possible.
Supporting facts and citations
• CDC. Workplace health promotion: Flu & Pneumonia. cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/
health-strategies/flu-pneumonia/index.html
• Nowak. Promoting influenza vaccination: Insights from a qualitative meta-analysis of 14 years of
influenza-related communications research by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• CDC. Pregnant Women & Influenza (Flu).cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/pregnant.htm
• CDC. Flu and People with Diabetes.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/diabetes.htm
• CDC. Flu and People with Asthma.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/asthma.htm
