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Who is considered high risk?

Like COVID-19, anybody can get the flu. But some people are at a higher risk of developing complications than others.1,2

For the flu specifically, these people include:2–4

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People with chronic medical conditions may also be at risk of developing complications from the flu.2

  • Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions
  • Chronic heart or lung disease
  • Asthma
  • Long-term aspirin therapy (younger than 19 years of age)
  • Extreme obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or more)
  • Blood / endocrine / kidney / liver / metabolic disorders
  • Weakened immune system due to disease or medication
  • Endocrine disorders
    e.g. diabetes
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Complications of the flu can be serious, and in the worst cases, life-threatening.2,5
With antivirals, you can lower the risk of these complications developing.6

Learn more abut flu antivirals

References

  1.  WebMD. Who gets COVID-19? Available from:  https://www.webmd.com/lung/qa/who-gets-covid19. Last accessed: October 2020.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People at High Risk of Developing Serious Flu-Related Complications. Available from: www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/high_risk.htm. Last accessed: October 2020.
  3. First Nations Health Authority. Influenza (flu) information. Available from: https://www.fnha.ca/what-we-do/communicable-disease-control/influenza-information. Last accessed: October 2020.
  4. NSW Government. Aboriginal people and influenza. Available from: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/Influenza/Pages/aboriginal_people_and_influenza.aspx. Last accessed: October 2020.
  5. Mertz D et al. BMJ 2013; 347: f5061.
  6. Allen UD et al. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol 2006; 17(5): 273–284.