Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., M.P.H., FAAFP, American Heart Association Chief Medical Officer for Prevention
copyright American Heart Association 

"In persons who had heart attacks and strokes, there's a list of things that we know are must do's to prevent either a second heart attack or stroke or some other severe complication because of the flu. In addition to aspirin, in addition to the medications that one oughta take, a flu vaccination every year is one of those must do's. If you get the flu, the likelihood of something really serious happening if you've already had a stroke or a heart attack, is really, really high. And so that's the message. Get a flu vaccine if you've got a history of already having had a heart attack or a stroke. And for our provider community, admonish your patients. Maybe that's the wrong word. Encourage, counsel, do everything possible to get your patients to get their influenza vaccine while they're in your office or connect them to the place where they can very easily get it done. For all patients, but in particular, with the focus and attention to those who've already had an event, heart attack or stroke, and are at higher risk of a bad outcome if they are or if they were to contract influenza."