It is very important to get a flu vaccine every year.  Some people choose not to get a flu shot because they do not like needles.  A new alternative to the flu shot could be on it's way.  Researchers are currently working on a transdermal flu patch that could help immunize citizens without having to get a needle. Skin patches containing microneedles have proven as effective as traditional hypodermic needles in delivering vaccine and preventing influenza in mice. These flu patches are more convenient, less painful, and less expensive than regular needles, and researchers from Emory and Georgia Tech believe they will increase vaccination coverage as a result. Their research is published in the April 2009 issue of theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and the Public Library of Science One (March 10, 2009).
The way the flu patches work is simple: they contain tiny stainless steel microneedles that are covered with inactivated flu virus and pressed into the skin, where the vaccine dissolves after a few minutes.  Watch video below to learn more about the benefits of the new flu patch vaccine.

Everyone 6 months and older are recommended to get the flu vaccine every season. 

The flu is a common illness. Every year in the United States, on average

• 5%-20% of the population gets the flu.
  
  
• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications,
  
  
• about 36,000 people die from the flu or its complications.

Seasonal influenza vaccines generally protect against three different strains of influenza each year. The antigens of each influenza strain tend to mutate each year and this is why the flu shot is recommended annually. The key in flu vaccination is not only getting a flu shot to protect yourself but also to protect those around you. The more people that get vaccinated with a flu vaccine, the less likely an abundance of influenza cases will spread throughout that area. Generally, influenza disease will peak in December through March. The ideal time to get your  flu vaccination is September through January. The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older should receive a flu vaccine every year. The groups at highest risk for influenza disease are:

- pregnant women
- children younger than 5
- individuals 50 years of age and older
- individuals with chronic medical conditions
- health care workers

Flu vaccine patches do not contain live diseases. This vaccine as well as many others are attenuated or killed. You cannot get influenza disease from the flu patch. You can get minor immune responses such as headache, sore arm or fever. It is a large myth that you can get the flu from a flu vaccination or a flu vaccine patch. If you do not know where to go to get a flu vaccine you can use a  flu vaccine clinic finder. This is new technology that has been brought about as a public service by Google. Flu vaccine clinics register their information and all the clinics are registered into Google's mapping system to provide convenient locations for any individual needing a flu vaccination.  You can use this link to find a flu clinic near you or to register your flu clinic with google.