Flu Shots for Children
Pediatric experts strongly recommend an annual flu vaccination for children.
The Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) recommends that healthy children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday,
their close contacts (people who live with them, and out-of-the home caregivers
such as nannies, daycare providers, etc.) should get a flu vaccine.
Vaccination is especially important for any child aged 6 months
and older with chronic health problems including:
- asthma or other lung problems
- immune suppression
- chronic kidney disease
- heart disease
- HIV/AIDS
- diabetes
- sickle cell anemia
- long-term aspirin therapy
- any condition that can compromise respiratory function
Children under 6 months old are the pediatric group at highest risk of influenza
complications, but they are too young to get a flu vaccine. The best way to protect
young children is to make sure members of their household and caregivers get vaccinated.
Contrary to popular belief, vaccine effectiveness does not change over a course of months; therefore, it is ok to get flu vaccine as soon as it is available, even in late August or early September.
In the United States, two vaccines are available:
- The “flu shot” – an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
- The nasal-spray flu vaccine – a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for “live attenuated influenza vaccine”). LAIV is approved for use in healthy people 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.
Please call your child's pediatrician early about scheduling your child's flu shot.
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