Revised Flu Vaccination Guidelines - Dec. 21, 2004

Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Effective December 21, 2004  

These Guidelines replace and supersede the Interim Guidelines effective December 1, 2004. Based upon recent information on the current supply of vaccine, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has determined that the influenza vaccine should be made more widely available in accordance with the following guidelines:

Health care providers should use the inactivated influenza vaccine for individuals in the following high risk categories: 

• All children aged 6-23 months;    
• Adults aged > 50 years;    
• Persons aged 2-64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions;    
• All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;    
• Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;    
• Children aged 6 months – 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy;    
• Health-care workers involved in direct patient care and emergency first responders; and    
• Out-of home caregivers and household contacts of anyone at high risk of complications of influenza, including children aged < 6 months.

The intranasally administered, live attenuated influenza vaccine (FluMist) may now be used for all healthy individuals 5-49 years of age.  

The Department will continue to closely monitor the influenza vaccine supply and will revise this Interim Guideline, if appropriate.