The New Jersey State Health Department has mandated that children ages six months to 59 months who are attending daycare and preschools are required by law to receive the flu shot.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends the following guidelines for those who would benefit from the flu vaccine yearly:
50 years of age 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 immunodeficiency virus)
Are or plan to be pregnant during the flu season and those who are in the latter’s immediate family
Are aged six months through 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; have household contacts who are 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
Are household contacts and caregiver to persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza
Medical personnel - first responders