Older adults and people with chronic diseases are at the
greatest risk of problems associated with seasonal flu. Of all
age groups, individuals older than age 84 have the highest risk
of dying from seasonal flu complications; those older than age
74 face the second highest risk of flu complications. Children
age 4 and younger have the third highest risk of problems with
seasonal flu. Swine Flu Outbreak: Get the Facts Get the latest
swine flu facts and information from WebMD, the CDC and other
public health agencies. Getting a seasonal flu shot is a very
smart idea. It reduces hospitalization by about 70% and death by
about 85% among older adults who do not live in nursing homes,
according to the National Institute on Aging. Among nursing home
residents, the flu shot does the following: reduces the risk of
hospitalization by about 50% reduces the risk of pneumonia by
about 60% reduces the risk of death by 75% to 80% Keep in mind
that the seasonal flu viruses change each year, so older adults
need to get a new