Getting ready with vaccinations.

• Position: Flu Season

The new flu season is approaching. With just a few exceptions, everyone six months and older should get the seasonal flu vaccine, according to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga. The vaccine especially is important for those considered at high risk of complications, including adults older than 50, young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or a weakened immune system, maintain physicians at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

The vaccination is given as a shot, or a nasal spray is an option for healthy people ages two to 49. After vaccination, two or more weeks are necessary to develop antibodies to the flu virus.

The vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that researchers believe are most likely to cause illness. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized annually in the U.S. and about 36,000 die of the flu and...