Flu Shot Advice--5 Groups That Should Get The Flu Shot Now

With flu season fast approaching and many physicians and pharmacies offering the shot, many people are probably wondering whether they would be better off with or without the flu shot this year.

If you have serious medical conditions for which you are taking a prescribed medication, you should consult with your physician. Otherwise, here are 5 groups that can definitely benefit from taking the flu shot as early as possible this year and every year.

School Age Children--Children under 6 months should receive a shot, but otherwise students from preschool right through college can benefit. Large groups make it very easy for germs to spread rapidly from contact with frequently used surfaces as well as through inhalation or ingestion of germs that are sent airborne with sneezing and coughing.

Because students are constantly in such close proximity to each other, it is pretty near impossible not to avoid contagions. The extra boost that the flu shot offers your immune system can help you avoid or lessen the severity of its grip on you.

Parents of Small Children--Because babies and toddlers are always cuddling or being cuddled by their parents, germs can very easily be passed back and for the between parent and child. Parents who received the vaccine are providing more protection for the children particularly if the baby is too young to receive the shot.

School Personnel--If you interact with large numbers of children in any capacity at a school, you are at greater risk than the average adult. Most public elementary schools have enrollments from 500 to 1,000 students.

Even if every child only sneezed once and forgot to cover it with a hand or tissue, the number of germs in the air would be phenomenal. So in reality it's a wonder any one stays well with the actual number of germs that are floating in the air, and waiting on door handles, pencils, book bags and other commonly used items.

Assisted Living and Nursing Home Residents--In many cases many residents have immune systems that is not as able to fight off germs as it once was. This can be do to a natural decline in immunity, or they may also be taking medications that suppress the body's ability to respond effectively to viruses that can be so debilitating.

Residents who are memory impaired may no longer be able to practice proper hygiene and may involuntarily put everyone else in the facility at higher risk.

Health Care Professionals--Any person who comes in frequent contact with those who are ill should take advantage of the protection the flu shot can offer. Not can it offer protection to you, but it can make you less of a threat to those that you go home to each night.