The influenza vaccination is an annual vaccination using a vaccine specific for a given year to protect against the highly variable influenza virus.

Within a year, people become increasingly susceptible to the viral strains that were incorporated in the vaccine they got the season before, which is why annual vaccination is needed, even in years when the virus does not change its wardrobe.

Your best defense against influenza - and its possible complications - is to receive an annual vaccination.

"Our goal is to make annual vaccination a no-brainer for Americans across all age groups," Schaffner said.

In some countries, annual vaccinations against myxomatosis are available.

The second reason that yearly vaccination is recommended is that a person's immune protection from vaccination declines over time so annual vaccination is needed for optimal protection.

The states with the best programs got almost 60 percent of the noninstitutionalized elderly to participate, he said, as against about 30 percent of this age group that normally gets the annual vaccination.

While the primary strategy for preventing complications of influenza infections is annual vaccination, antiviral medications with activity against influenza viruses can be effective for the prophylaxis and treatment of influenza.

The current campaign involves annual vaccination of all children under age five.

With a quality diet and plenty of attention, love, and care, they can live 15 years or longer, and often only require annual vaccinations, veterinary checkups, and a quality diet.