Seasonal Flu

General Information

About this year's flu vaccine and who should get vaccinated

Vaccination restrictions

Vaccine safety (thimerosal)

Where to get a flu vaccination

Other Resources

Information for Healthcare Professionals

This year's flu vaccine (who should get vaccinated)

The City of Milwaukee Health Department recommends that all persons wishing to avoid becoming sick from flu this season receive a vaccination. 

1. TIV contains killed viruses and thus cannot cause influenza.
2. LAIV contains live, attenuated viruses that have the potential to cause mild signs or symptoms such as runny nose, nasal congestion, fever or sore throat.
3. LAIV is administered intranasally by sprayer, whereas TIV is administered intramuscularly by injection.
4. LAIV does not contain thimerosal. 

• aged 6 months–4 years;
• who have chronic diseases of the lung (including asthma), heart (except hypertension), kidney, liver or blood(including diabetes mellitus);
• who are immuno-compromised either by medications, treatment, and or/ by condition such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV);
• who have any condition that can compromise breathing or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders) ;
• who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy who therefore might be at risk for experiencing       Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;
• who are residents of chronic-care facilities; and,
• adolescent females who will be pregnant during the influenza season.

• persons 50 years of age and older;
• women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
• persons who have chronic diseases of the lung (including asthma), heart (except hypertension), kidney, liver or blood (including diabetes mellitus);
• persons who are immuno-compromised either by medications, treatment, and or/ by condition such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV);
• persons who have any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure  disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders) that can compromise breathing or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration;
• residents of nursing homes, long-term-care facilities, residence halls or congregate living situations;
• health-care workers;
• household contacts and caregivers of children aged <5 years and adults aged >50 years, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children aged <6 months; and,
• household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at high risk for severe complications from influenza.

Restrictions for vaccination are based on the type of vaccine.

• Children less than 2 years of age; 
• People 50 years of age and over; 
• People with a medical condition that places them at high risk for complications from influenza, including those with chronic heart or lung disease, such as asthma or reactive airways disease; people with medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure; or people with illnesses that weaken the immune system, or who take medications that can weaken the immune system;
• Children <5 years old with a history of recurrent wheezing;
• Children or adolescents receiving aspirin; 
• People with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder of the nervous system; 
• Pregnant women; 
• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who are allergic to any of the nasal spray vaccine components.

• Individuals who have allergies to chicken eggs or who have had severe reactions to flu shots in the past
• Individuals who are moderately or severely ill with a fever, should wait to receive their flu shot until after their symptoms lessen.
• Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder of the nervous system within 6 weeks following a previous dose of TIV is considered to be a precaution for use of TIV.

Vaccine safety (thimerosal)

Some flu vaccines may contain a preservative called thimerosal. For information about thimerosal in vaccines, please click here. Parents and or/ patients may request preservative free flu vaccine if it is available. 

Where to get a flu vaccination

As of 10/8/08, flu vaccine will be available for individuals over the age of 2 at MHD weekly walk-in clinics (please click for link). Please call 414-286-3616 for flu vaccine availabilty at MHD walk-in clinics.

Typically, children under the age of 18 when accompanied by their parent/ guardian may receive a flu vaccination at one of MHD’s scheduled walk in clinics. There is no cost associated for a flu vaccination for individuals under the age of 19 at our MHD walk-in clinics.

The cost of a flu shot this year will be $30 or at no cost when a Medicare Part B or Medicaid card is presented (Parent or guardian must be present with any child under the age of 18). The cost of the Pneumococcal (Pneumonia) vaccine is $45. 

Healthy individuals 2-49 year of age who are not pregnant or have long term healthcare problems can receive LAIV, the nasal-spray flu vaccine at anytime during the flu season (if available). MHD will have LAIV, the nasal-spray flu vaccine available for a cost of $30. The cost for LAIV, the nasal-spray flu vaccine at other healthcare providers may vary. 

Additional Milwaukee County Flu Clinics:

Other Resources

For Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) flu resources en Espanol, click here

Parents: for tips on flu from the CDC, click here