Newtown Square, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/18/2017 -- Medicare follows the recommended guidelines laid out by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which state that people should get their annual flu vaccination. Medicare Part B covers 100 percent of a flu shot so long as a provider participating in Medicare offers the injection.

Statistics show that while flu seasons vary in strain and intensity, most individuals 65-years old and older are at a higher risk of developing a severe case of the flu and at greater risk of experiencing serious complications.

An estimated 71 percent to 85 percent of yearly flu-related deaths have occurred in those age 65 and older. Additionally, roughly 54 to 70 percent of those hospitalized for flu symptoms are also in the same age range.

"The flu, also referred to as influenza, is extremely serious and may lead to a victim being hospitalized. The victim may recover or may even die. It's difficult to tell how a particular strain of flu is going to affect someone, as every year the flu manifests itself in different forms," says Clelland Green, RHU, CEO benepath.com.

Millions fall victim to the flu and according to the CDC thousands die yearly from flu-related causes. In the United States, flu season may start as early as October and last until May, which is why the CDC and Medicare recommend Americans on Medicare (and others) get their yearly flu shot. The more people vaccinated, the smaller the spread of the disease.

Complications from the flu may include:

Sinus infections
Ear infections
Heart inflammation
Inflammation of the brain
Muscle inflammation
Pneumonia
Multiple organ failure
Exacerbation of existing conditions such as: heart disease or asthma

For the 2017-2018 U.S. flu season the CDC is recommending the use of injectable flu vaccines, which include recombinant flu vaccines and inactivated flu vaccines. The nasal spray flu vaccine (live attenuated), should not be used. Trivalent (containing three components) and quadrivalent (containing four components) vaccines are available this year.

For further information on the kinds of flu shots available this year, visit the CDC website at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm.