Daily HealthBeat Tip

Getting shot again

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

It's fall, and flu outbreaks can't be far behind. So it's time again to get protected. Flu vaccine is being shipped, and federal officials expect a lot of supply.

Dr. Daniel Jernigan is deputy director of the influenza division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

"Since we expect there to be a good supply of vaccine this year, there is every reason to take advantage of the opportunity to protect yourself, to protect your patients and to protect your loved ones by getting a flu shot this year." (12 seconds)

Instead of a shot, it could be a nasal spray for healthy people ages five to 49 years of age, excluding pregnant women.

And new this year is a recommendation that more kids get vaccinated � from as young as six months up to the fifth birthday.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: November 16, 2006

The White House | USA.gov | Helping America's Youth