Here are the CDC's guidelines, from thier website:
Almost half of the nation's flu vaccine will not be delivered this year. Chiron, a major manufacturer of flu vaccine, will not be distributing any influenza vaccine this flu season. Chiron was to make 46-48 million doses vaccine for the United States.
Because of the vaccine shortage, CDC is changing its guidance about who should get vaccinated this season.
Who should be vaccinated?
The existing flu vaccine supplies should be given to protect people who are at greatest risk from serious complications from influenza disease.
Everyone in this group should seek vaccination:
People 65 years of age and older
Children ages 6 months to 23 months
Adults and children 2 years of age and older with chronic lung or heart disorders including heart disease and asthma
Pregnant women
Adults and children 2 years of age and older with chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes), kidney diseases, blood disorders (such as sickle cell anemia), or weakened immune systems, including persons with HIV/AIDS
Children and teenagers, 6 months to 18 years of age, who take aspirin daily
Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities
Household members and out-of-home caregivers of infants under the age of 6 months (Children under the age of 6 months cannot be vaccinated.)
Healthcare workers who provide direct, hands-on care to patients
Who should go without vaccination?
Healthy people 2 to 64 years of age are asked to not get vaccinated this year at all or to wait to get their vaccine after persons in priority groups in their area have had a chance to be vaccinated, so that available vaccine can go to protect those at greater risk for flu complications.
What about the nasal vaccine, FluMist ® ?
FluMist ®, the nasal-spray flu vaccine, is an option for healthy individuals, ages 5 to 49 years of age, who are in contact with infants under 6 months of age or who are healthcare workers who provide direct patient care. FluMist ® is not recommended for healthcare workers taking care of severely immunocompromised people when they are in a protective environment and cannot be given to pregnant women.
What else can you do to prevent the spread of flu?
There are certain good health habits that can help prevent the spread of flu.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from other to protect them from getting sick too.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and dispose of the tissue afterward.
If you dont have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
Wash your hands after you cough or sneeze with soap and warm water, or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
If you get the flu, stay home from work or school. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
What if you are in a high risk group and your clinic has no vaccine?
Contact your local health department and ask your regular vaccine provider about other options for influenza vaccination.
Health departments throughout the United States are trying to make sure that as many high-risk people as possible will eventually be able to go to either their regular vaccine provider or a flu shot clinic to get the vaccine.
Some public vaccination clinics may also be posted at
www.lungusa.org
Information for this page was provided by the Minnesota Department of Health.
So technically, no, your daughter doesn't qualify for the flu vaccine.
. I also did it last year and yes he got two shots for the first one. He is not high risk, but underweight, due to reflux and gastro problems. I was afraid with the older two boys in school he would catch something and he really should not lose weight.
