Emphasis should be placed on targeting trivalent inactivated vaccine to
persons at high risk for complications from influenza: healthy children aged
6–23 months, adults aged > 65 years, pregnant women in their second or third
trimester during influenza season, and persons aged > 2 years with underlying
chronic conditions.
Persons at high risk should be encouraged to search locally for vaccine if
their usual health-care provider no longer has vaccine available.
All children at high risk, including those aged 6–23 months, who report
for vaccination should be vaccinated with a first or second dose, depending on
vaccination status. Doses should not be held in reserve to ensure that two
doses will be available.
Next priority should be given to vaccinating those persons at greatest
risk for transmission of disease to persons at high risk, including household
contacts and health-care workers.
Healthy persons aged 5–49 years should be encouraged to be vaccinated with
intranasally administered live, attenuated influenza vaccine.
Decisions about vaccinating healthy persons, including adults aged 50–64
years, with inactivated influenza vaccine should be made on a case-by-case
basis, depending on local disease activity, vaccine coverage, feasibility, and
supply.
Health departments should work with their health-care providers to
reallocate influenza vaccine to health-care providers in need when possible.
Hygiene
Good respiratory hygiene should be encouraged, including cleaning of
hands, and staying at home when symptomatic with fever and respiratory
illness.
Medication
Antiviral medications with specific activity against influenza A viruses
should be considered either for treatment or chemoprophylaxis for influenza A,
especially in persons at high risk for complications from influenza.