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According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, [http://www.cdc.gov/flu/] these people are eligible to receive the vaccine in North Carolina:

• People 65 years of age and older
• Children ages six months to 23 months
• Adults and children two years of age and older with chronic lung or heart disorders including heart disease and asthma
• Pregnant women
• Adults and children two 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, six 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 six months (children under the age of six months cannot be vaccinated.)
• Health care workers who provide direct, hands-on care to patients

Healthy people two to 64 years of age are asked to postpone or skip getting a flu shot this year so that available vaccine can go to protect those at greater risk for flu complications.