Seasonal Flu Vaccination for Farm Workers

Key points

  • The best way to reduce your risk from seasonal flu is a flu vaccine.
  • A special program this year is making free seasonal flu vaccines available to farm workers in some states.
Two Jersey cows in a barn

About the program

CDC has provided more than 100,000 doses of seasonal influenza vaccine to 12 states affected by H5 bird flu outbreaks in animals. The goal of this program is to prevent the spread of seasonal flu in these communities and safeguard public health.

Seasonal flu vaccination is important

While a seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against H5 bird flu, increasing seasonal flu vaccination among farm workers can prevent severe illness and help reduce the strain of the flu season on health care systems. It also can make it easier for public health agencies to better detect cases of H5 bird flu, should they occur. And fewer people infected with seasonal flu means fewer opportunities for the very rare possibility of co-infection with both a human seasonal virus and an avian virus.

Participating states

Participating states include California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas.

Seasonal Farm Workers participating states map
Participating States Map

Information about how to get a vaccine by state

California

Immunization Branch (ca.gov)

Colorado

Mobile Public Health Clinic Program Colorado | Department of Public Health and Environment

Idaho

About Immunizations | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

Iowa

Immunization | Health & Human Services (iowa.gov)

Kansas

Immunizations | KDHE, KS

Michigan

Prevent Flu (michigan.gov)

Minnesota

Influenza (Flu) - MN Dept. of Health (state.mn.us)

North Carolina

NC DPH, WCH: Immunization Branch: Contacts (ncdhhs.gov)

New Mexico

Immunization for Adults (nmhealth.org)

Ohio

Immunization | Ohio Department of Health

South Dakota

Contact | South Dakota Department of Health (sd.gov)

Texas

Contact | Texas DSHS

Visit www.vaccines.gov‎

Visit www.vaccines.gov for additional information about where to get a flu vaccine.