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Flu Information for Parents
Flu can be a serious disease for children of all ages, causing them to miss school, activities, or even be hospitalized.
In the U.S. each year an average of 20,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized because of flu complications. In fact, influenza is one of the leading causes of infectious disease hospitalizations among young children.
Children younger than 5 years old, and especially those younger than 2 years, are at higher risk of serious flu complications, including hospitalization and death, compared to older children. The risk of serious illness is highest among children younger than 6 months of age.
Vaccination is the first and most important step in protecting your family against the flu. Children 6 months and older are recommended to get a yearly flu vaccine. Infants younger than 6 months old are too young to be vaccinated. Protect them by getting yourself, other children and family in the household, and other close contacts vaccinated. This will help prevent spreading the virus to infants. Getting vaccinated during pregnancy can protect the mother and may offer your newborn protection from the flu after birth.
CDC recommends that children younger than 9 years of age who have never received a seasonal flu vaccine get two doses of vaccine spaced at least 4 weeks apart.
Two doses given at least 4 weeks apart are recommended for children aged 6 months through 8 years of age who are getting a flu vaccine for the first time. Children who only got 1 dose in their first year of vaccination should get 2 doses the following year.
All children 6 months up through 8 years of age getting a flu vaccine for the first time need two doses, at least 4 weeks apart, the first year they are vaccinated in order to develop immune protection. This includes children who received one or two doses of the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine, but who have never received a seasonal flu vaccine.
Vaccination is especially important for protecting children with asthma, diabetes (type 1 and 2), or other long-term health conditions because they are at increased risk for serious complications from flu.
The flu can make some health conditions worse. For example, children with asthma (even if it's mild or controlled by medication) are more likely to develop serious complications from the flu, such as asthma attacks or pneumonia compared to children without asthma.
Children with asthma (even if the asthma is mild or controlled by medication) are more likely to be hospitalized for flu-related complications than children who don't have asthma. If you live with or care for a child at high risk of serious complications from flu, you and your child should get vaccinated. In addition, children also should be current on other vaccines that can help prevent pneumonia, like pneumococcal and Hib vaccines.
Be sure to let the doctor know if your child has an allergy to eggs or any health conditions like asthma, other heart or lung conditions, neurologic conditions or other medical problems.