Influenza

Influenza ("flu") season is here and Boston Public Health Commission wants to make sure that you and your family are protected. Use our website as a resource to answer all your questions concerning:

1. Get the Facts - General flu information.
   
   
2. Vaccination - This is the best way to protect yourself from the flu.  Influenza can cause serious illness in anyone, but you are at higher risk if you fall into one of the following groups:
   
   
• Pregnant women
• Children less than 5 years of age
• Seniors
• Anyone of any age with underlying health problems like heart disease, lung disease (including asthma), kidney disease, or otherwise healthy people who are morbidly obese (BMI ≥40 kg or 88 lbs/m2) 
• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
• Health care workers
• Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
• Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
  
  
3. Get Well - How to care for yourself and others.
   
   
4. Healthcare providers - Reporting requirements and infection control guidelines for healthcare providers as well as research and clinical laboriatories.
   
   
5. Educational materials - resources related to influenza.