Influenza can make existing medical conditions much worse. If you have a chronic medical condition such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, or heart disease, influenza can cause serious complications—and sometimes even death.
Getting a flu shot every year can lower those risks. An analysis by the American Lung Association found that if 100% of people with asthma received the influenza vaccine, up to 136,000 hospitalizations could be prevented each year.
If you or someone you know has one of the following conditions, influenza vaccination is especially important because you are at highest risk for developing complications associated with influenza:1,2
It also is important for caregivers and household contacts for the chronically ill to get the flu shot every year.1 These include parents, grandparents, siblings, babysitters, and day care providers.
Did you know?
Actor, Father, and Asthmatic
Actor Dean Cain has asthma. While he may have been a great football player and appeared as Superman on the popular television series "Lois and Clark," he knows he's no real-life superhero. He fears getting the flu.

College Student Living with Type 1 Diabetes
Brett Colavolpe, who has type 1 diabetes, makes annual influenza immunization a priority because he knows those with high-risk conditions, such as diabetes, can be even more severely affected by this often devastating disease.10

Cancer Survivor
Cindy Marek can happily say she has beaten cancer and passed her 5-year mark without recurrence. Influenza vaccination is recommended for people with cancer, like Cindy, whose immune systems are weakened by the disease or by cancer treatment.1

Brothers Living with Asthma
Brandon and Dmitri have asthma. Their mother Lakisha knows the flu can worsen symptoms of asthma like wheezing, and make breathing even more difficult.14-16 That's why she makes sure her family is vaccinated each and every year.

Sheriff and Mother
Sheriff Sue Rahr's niece Elaine has cystic fibrosis. Given her niece's condition, increasing community awareness about the dangers of the flu and the need for immunization is an easy decision for Sue to make.

Husband with COPD and His Wife, Household Contact
Ray Ross is over 75 years of age and has emphysema, a progressive chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As a result of his emphysema, Ray is at increased risk of developing complications from the flu.1

Older Adult Living with Type 2 Diabetes
Mario Linares is over 60 years of age and has type 2 diabetes; a chronic medical condition that increases his risk for many serious complications, such as heart disease, blindness, nerve damage, and kidney damage.

Mother and Her Daughter With Asthma, Who Was Hospitalized for Influenza-related Complications
“I never knew how serious influenza was until Dez'Arae got it,” Daina Maxwell said. “I am so lucky to still have her here, and I am not willing to take any more chances.”

Sister with Severe Asthma and Her Brother, Household Contact
With a family of 6 children, the Pienta household can sometimes feel like a whirlwind of activities. But parents John and Jody always ensure annual vaccination against influenza, a potentially deadly disease, stays on top of their family's to-do list.

Mother of Grace, Who Lives With a Rare Genetic Disorder Making Her Susceptible to Respiratory Infections
A mother of three, she understands the importance of vaccinating her family against influenza every year. Her youngest daughter Grace was born with a rare genetic disorder that makes her more susceptible to respiratory infections.

Father and Daughter Living with Asthma
David Schwartz and his daughter Leia both have asthma and understand how devastating influenza can be for those who fall into one of the high-risk groups. "Just the thought of getting influenza scares my family because we know how devastating it can be for Leia, who has asthma," said David.

Mother and her Son with Asthma
Rebecca Wooters doesn't take chances when it comes to influenza and takes protecting her family's well-being seriously. To help protect Nicolaas and the rest of her household each year, she makes vaccination a "family affair" and ensures all of her loves ones get their flu shot.

Wife Living with Heart Condition and Her Husband, Household Contact
Each year, for more than 20 years, Dody and Earl Kinsella have faithfully received their flu shots. As older Americans, they know they are at a higher risk for complications from this serious virus.1
The mission of the American Lung Association is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.