Target Groups for Vaccination

Persons at Increased Risk for Complications
Vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine is recommended for the following persons who are at increased risk for complications from influenza:
· persons aged >65 years;
· residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities that house persons of any age who have chronic medical conditions;
· adults and children who have chronic disorders of the pulmonary or cardiovascular systems, including asthma (hypertension is not considered a high-risk condition);
· adults and children who 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]);
· adults and children who have any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders) that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration;
· children and adolescents (aged 6 months–18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and, therefore, might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza infection;
· women who will be pregnant during the influenza season; and
· children aged 6–23 months.
In 2004, approximately 88 million persons in the United States were included in one or more of these target groups, including 36 million persons aged >65 years, 1.6 million long-term–care facility residents, 6 million children aged 6–23 months, 42 million persons aged 2–64 years with one or more conditions associated with an increased risk for influenza-related complications, and 4 million pregnant women (CDC, National Immunization Program, unpublished data, 2005).

Homeopathic medications are not a replacement for standard care and/or
the prevention by vaccinations when appropriate.