BOX. Summary of influenza vaccination recommendations, 2010

• All persons aged 6 months and older should be vaccinated annually.
• Protection of persons at higher risk for influenza-related complications should continue to be a focus of vaccination efforts as providers and programs transition to routine vaccination of all persons aged 6 months and older.
• When vaccine supply is limited, vaccination efforts should focus on delivering vaccination to persons who:
  • are aged 6 months--4 years (59 months);
  • are aged 50 years and older;
  • have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
  • are immunosuppressed (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus);
  • are or will be pregnant during the influenza season;
  • are aged 6 months--18 years and receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who therefore might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;
  • are residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities;
  • are American Indians/Alaska Natives;
  • are morbidly obese (body-mass index is 40 or greater);
  • are health-care personnel;
  • are household contacts and caregivers of children aged younger than 5 years and adults aged
  • 50 years and older, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children aged younger than 6 months; and
  • are household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza