Michael Smith, MD: Everyone 6 months and older should get the flu vaccine,
either the flu shot or the nasal spray flu vaccine, if it's right for you.
Critically important for those younger children, older adults,
or anyone with a chronic medical condition like heart disease or lung disease,
because those people are more likely to get complications from the flu.
Pregnant women absolutely should get the flu vaccine.
Now, pregnant women have to get the flu shot.
They cannot get nasal spray flu vaccine, largely because it just hasn't been tested in that group.
Michael Smith, MD: The flu vaccine, not only does it help prevent you from getting the flu,
if you still get the flu, it's more likely to be less severe.
And it's a very effective way, really your best defense against getting the flu.
And it's quite safe, very minor side effects,
if any, usually, from the flu vaccine.
So it's really important everybody 6 months and older to get the flu shot every single year.
