EDITOR’S NOTE — This is another in a series of articles by local Centers for Disease Control Sentinel Physician Dr. Robert P. Blereau of Morgan City.

The flu vaccine is strongly recommended annually for everyone beginning at 6 months of age.

There is no upper age limit for the flu vaccine. The older one is, the more important it is to get immunized.

However, there are some reasons for a few people to avoid the flu vaccine, these include:

—People with severe allergies to eggs, such as anaphylaxis. Minor allergies to eggs, such as hives or lightheadedness is not a contradiction, but the vaccine should be given in the presence of a health care provider familiar with and capable to responding to allergic reactions.

—Children under 6 months of age.

—People who have developed Guillian-Barre syndrome within 6 weeks of getting a flu vaccine.

—People with a moderate or severe illness should wait until they recover. For a child with a mild temperature elevation or a mild, probable virus; illness is not a contradiction.

The nasal spray flu vaccine is a live weakened or attenuated flu virus and is approved only for non-pregnant healthy persons aged 2-49 years.