Are You at Risk?

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This web site addresses seasonal influenza

For more information regarding 2009 H1N1 flu, please visit: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

Are You at Risk?

The Many “Faces” of Influenza

We all are "Faces" of influenza and should be immunized this and every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older and especially for those at highest risk for developing complications associated with the disease, which can include hospitalizations and even death.^1,2

Getting a flu shot every year is the best way to help protect yourself and your family. Influenza vaccination is safe and effective. The American Lung Association urges you and your loved ones to get vaccinated every influenza season. Vaccination typically begins in the fall and can continue through the spring. In many seasons, the flu doesn’t peak until late winter, in February or March, but you should try to get the influenza vaccine as soon as possible. Talk to your health-care provider for more information about the importance of influenza immunization.¹

Everyone is a "Face" of influenza and should be vaccinated every year. Vaccination is important for all Americans, however influenza immunization rates in the highest-risk groups fall far short of public health goals every year.^1,2 Groups at higher risk of influenza infection or complications include:

People 50 years of age and older
Children 6 months-18 years of age
Pregnant women
People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, diabetes, and others
Residents of long-term care facilities and nursing homes

Additionally, those who come into close contact with someone at high risk should get vaccinated not only to help protect themselves against influenza, but also to help avoid spreading the disease to more vulnerable populations. They include:

Household contacts and caregivers of anyone in a high-risk group, including parents, siblings, grandparents, babysitters, and day care providers
Health-care personnel

Note: Children under 9 years of age may need 2 doses approximately 1 month apart, depending on their influenza vaccination history.¹

Some people should not get the influenza vaccine or should first talk with their health-care provider. These include:¹

People with severe allergies to eggs
People who have had a severe allergic reaction to a past influenza vaccination
Children younger than 6 months of age

Did you know?

Portrait Gallery

Sue Rahr

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.
Mario Linares

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.
Christina Fry and Rick Cerett

Family of Infant Marques Jackson, Who Died at 6 Months of Age From Influenza-related Complications

When infant Marques Jackson passed away from influenza-related complications, his mother Christina Fry and grandfather Rick Cerett became crusaders for yearly vaccination for parents, children, and caretakers.
Zack Yaksich

Father Who Lost His 5-year-old Daughter to Influenza-related Complications

In February 2003, tragedy struck Zack and his family when his 5-year-old daughter Alana passed away because of influenza. Alana had not been vaccinated against the disease, but Zack and his wife now make sure their entire family gets immunized every year.
Joy Behar

Comedian, Co-host of "The View," and Mother

On the hit daytime show "The View," co-host Joy Behar is "the funny one," the comedian and co-host who spins a humorous web around the day's topics. When it comes to influenza, however, the jokes stop.
Bob Khan

Fire Chief, City of Phoenix Fire Department

Fire Chief Bob knows that, healthy or not, the flu and its complications can stop him and his crew of 2000 firefighters in their tracks.
Brandon Williams and Dmitri Aston

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.
Brett Colavolpe

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
Cindy Marek

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
Diane and Mike McGowan

Parents of Martin McGowan Who Died of Influenza-related Complications at 15 Years of Age

Diane and Michael McGowan's healthy 15-year-old son Martin died from complications as a result of the flu in 2005. "One flu shot could have saved his life," says Diane.
Dr. Joyce Brothers

Long-time Family Psychologist and Advice Columnist

Dr. Brothers firmly believes that flu shots are critical for families, because they help keep parents at work and kids at school.
Hugo Alvarez, MD

American Lung Association of Illinois, Greater Chicago

Hugo Alvarez, MD, knows all too well the dangers influenza and its related complications can cause for people with asthma—even more so when families are not educated on the dangers of influenza and the need to get vaccinated.
Sheryl Swoopes

Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Basketball Star, and Mother

Legendary women's basketball player Sheryl Swoopes gets vaccinated against the flu every year to help protect herself as well as her son, Jordan, who lives with asthma.
Jessica Polakow

Mother-to-Be

When she posed for this portrait, Jessica Polakow was about to become a mother for the very first time. She made sure she was vaccinated against influenza because she knew pregnant women are more likely to be hospitalized from complications of influenza than non-pregnant women of the same age.¹⁰
Tyra Bryant-Stephens, MD

Director, Community Asthma Prevention Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

As founder of the Community Asthma Prevention Program at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Dr. Tyra Bryant-Stephens knows how dangerous the flu can be to children with asthma and other respiratory problems.
LaShell Griffin

Singer and Mother of Five

Singing since she was 13, LaShell Griffin's life has changed significantly after beating out 15,000 contestants and winning the "Oprah Winfrey Pop Star Challenge" in 2004. Yet, her main focus is her role as a wife and mother of 5 children.
Lourdes “Lori” Diaz

Clinical Nurse Supervisor

Lourdes Diaz knows the importance of being immunized against the flu—she's worked in health-care for over 15 years. She got influenza during a busy year when she did not have time to get a flu shot and lost nearly a week's work—and pay.
Kristi Yamaguchi

National Spokesperson

Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi takes her career as a figure skater seriously. Yet, since her victory on "Dancing with the Stars," and experience as an American role model, she has taken on an even more serious role in life – her family. As the mother of two young children, Kristi knows that influenza immunization is a must for everyone in her family.
Mike Quick

Pro-football Player, Announcer, Son, and Father

At the age of 32, five-time Pro Bowler and former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Mike Quick was tackled by the flu. The virus hit him so hard that he was hospitalized for 3 days.
Ray and Stella Ross

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
Richard and Alissa Kanowitz

Parents of Amanda Kanowitz, Who Died From Influenza-related Complications at Age 4

When Richard and Alissa Kanowitz lost their daughter Amanda to influenza-related complications in 2004, they decided to do everything they could to save other families from enduring similar heartbreak.
Jean Miller

Over 65, Retiree with Active Lifestyle

Jean Miller is over 65 years of age. In fact, she's way over 65. Jean gets immunized against the flu every year because she knows at her age, influenza can be life threatening.
Lylan Bui

Daughter of Tri and Trinh Bui

When Lylan reached 6 months of age, her mother Trinh made sure Lylan was immunized against influenza because she knows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual influenza vaccination for children 6 months-18 years of age.¹
Joy Behar

Comedian, Co-host of "The View," and Mother

On the hit daytime show "The View," co-host Joy Behar is "the funny one," the comedian and co-host who spins a humorous web around the day's topics. When it comes to influenza, however, the jokes stop.
Vonetta Flowers

Olympic Gold Medalist and Mother

Olympic Gold Medalist Vonetta Flowers was almost sidelined by the flu during her days as a college athlete, but she persevered from this illness and went on to become the first-ever black athlete from any nation to win a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Eva Quiroz and Jasper Quiroz-Hansen

Working Mother of Two, and Her Son

Even with her husband's help, Eva Quiroz's free time is limited. But her family's health is her top priority, no matter how busy she gets. Eva knows influenza is a potentially life-threatening disease, so she schedules her family's vaccination appointments with their doctor every year.
Pari Miller

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.
Dean Cain

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.
Julie Moise

Mother of Ian, Who Died From Influenza-related Complications at 6 1/2 Months of Age Also Living With Asthma

Julie Moise lost her 6 1/2-month-old son, Ian, to influenza-related complications in 2003, just 2 days after he was diagnosed with the disease.
Daina Maxwell and Dez'Arae Harrison

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.”
Linda DeLude

Mother of Two Who Lost Her Husband Barry, a Minneapolis Firefighter, to Influenza

Linda DeLude's husband Barry, a Minneapolis firefighter, was her best friend. He was always healthy, so Linda never thought about making sure he was vaccinated against influenza. But Barry was infected with influenza in March 2007—tragically, he died from the disease.
Megan and Brandon Pienta

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.
Delicia “Dee Dee” Abdur-Rahim

Mother of Two and Wife of Sacramento Kings Assistant Coach Shareef Abdur-Rahim

“When I spoke with my doctor, she said that because my son Jabri has asthma, he is much more vulnerable to developing serious complications from influenza. I made sure he got his flu shot after that conversation,” Dee Dee said.
Scott Jones

Sacramento County Sheriff's Captain

As a Sheriff's Captain, Scott Jones knows part of his job means taking risks to make sure Sacramento County is a safe place to live. But one risk Scott refuses to take is getting influenza—he gets himself and his family vaccinated every year.
David and Leia Schwartz

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.
Rebecca and Nicolaas Wooters

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.
Heidi Kinsella

Wife, Mother of 2, and School Teacher

Being in close contact with so many children every day, Heidi knows that germs and viruses can spread easily among kids and even to their friends, families, and others. That’s why she makes getting vaccinated against influenza a priority for herself and her family every year.
Mark Williams, MD

Pulmonary Disease Specialist, American Lung Association Board Member

Mark Williams, MD, sees many "faces" of influenza on a daily basis as everyone 6 months of age and older is recommended for annual influenza immunization by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.^1,2
Edmundo Hidalgo

Husband, Father, and CEO of Chicanos Por La Causa

Edmundo Hidalgo is committed to encouraging Hispanics in the Phoenix area to get vaccinated against influenza each year. He also knows that Hispanics have higher rates of chronic conditions like asthma, which may put them at an increased risk for developing serious complications from influenza.^1,18
Dody and Earl Kinsella

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