is most important for children 6 to 59 months; adults ages 50 and older; anyone with a chronic disease; anyone who lives in a nursing home or other long-term care site; health care workers; and people who are in frequent contact with elderly adults or the chronically ill. The CDC says children between ages 6 months and 8 years who were never immunized or received only one dose of vaccine in the previous year should get two full doses of vaccine, one month apart. Doctors also advise flu shots for women who plan to be pregnant during flu season. The CDC says flu shots are OK for breastfeeding mothers. Even if you don't fall into one of the above groups, however, you are still a candidate for the vaccine if you want to avoid the flu. Talk with your doctor first Some people shouldn't be vaccinated for the flu before talking with their health care provider, the CDC says. These are reasons to talk with your doctor: You have a severe allergy -- such as an anaphylactic reaction -- to chicken eggs. You had previously developed Guillian-Barr syndrome in the six weeks after getting a flu shot. You currently have an illness with a fever; you should wait until symptoms improve before getting the vaccine. Children younger than 6 months of age should not be immunized against the flu, because the flu vaccines haven't been approved for that age group. Other prevention steps Flu viruses are spread by contact with