By Todd Hatton
Murray, KY – State public health officials are encouraging Kentuckians to get the influenza vaccine now to reduce spread of the illness this coming flu season. Steve Davis, acting commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, says the flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu's spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending flu vaccine for all people older than 6 months. People who should especially receive the flu vaccine are those 50 years or older and children ages 6 months to 19 years. Other groups especially encouraged to receive the flu vaccine are pregnant women, health care workers and people with chronic health problems. Healthy, non-pregnant people ages 2 to 49 can receive either the flu shot or the nasal vaccine spray.