Does CDC recommend influenza vaccination to reduce the likelihood of getting a respiratory tract illness that could be mistaken for SARS?
No. CDC does not recommend that influenza vaccination be considered as a way to avoid confusing influenza disease with an influenza-like illness caused by SARS. Influenza vaccination is the primary means of preventing influenza and its severe complications, including pneumonia, hospitalization, and death. Complications from influenza infection most often occur among people 65 years of age and older, people less than 65 years of age who have certain medical conditions, and children less than 2 years old. Influenza vaccination is targeted toward these high-risk groups, all people 50 to 64 years of age (because a high proportion of them have at least one high-risk condition), health-care workers, and household contacts of high-risk persons. Influenza viruses are only one cause of influenza-like illness (fever, body aches, headaches). Even during the fall and winter influenza season, many other infectious agents (including SARS-associated coronavirus) can cause influenza-like illness, and
