This news story is also available in Spanish.
by Scott Flinn, M.D., regional medical director for Provider Partnerships, Blue Shield of California
Flu season is here. The flu vaccine is an essential step to protect your baby or toddler against preventable and unnecessary illness.
Children, especially those younger than age 2, are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications. They have smaller airways, so breathing becomes compromised once the flu virus infects and inflames those airways. In my experiences as an urgent care doctor, I know that the flu vaccine for children ages 6-24 months can save lives.
In order to be fully protected, children should receive two flu vaccines in the same season before the age of 2, with at least four weeks between vaccines. Learn more about the recommendation here.
Protecting your children and community from the flu
The flu is caused by a respiratory virus and can spread rapidly through communities as it is passed from person to person in the air through coughing and sneezing. It can also spread when people touch contaminated hard surfaces, like a door handle, especially when young ones put their fingers in their nose or mouth or even rub their eyes.
The single most effective protection against the flu is to get a flu vaccine every year in the fall before it begins spreading, starting at 6 months old.* The flu vaccine takes about two weeks after getting vaccinated to fully boost the immune system and protect from the virus. While it doesn’t guarantee your child won’t get the flu, it helps reduce the chances of contracting it, can make symptoms milder, and prevent serious complications or hospitalization.
Additionally, kids can spread flu illnesses to their high-risk family members, including infants 6 months and younger, adults 65 years and older, and any family member with chronic health conditions.
Timing for flu vaccine
Since flu season occurs at different times throughout the world, the flu is not just limited to the fall and winter — it is a plane ride away. While the flu shot is recommended for kids and adults in the fall before the typical flu season in the United States, getting vaccinated later can still be beneficial. It is safe to be vaccinated late as late as January to March. Keep in mind that kids under 2 years old still need two doses from the same season. If you are vaccinated late in the season, you can still receive the next season’s flu vaccine in September, as flu vaccine formulations are different from one season to the next and only need to have four weeks of separation.
Common flu vaccine questions
- Does the flu vaccine cause the flu, and why does my child feel “fluish” after the vaccine?
A simple explanation is the vaccine is working! Mild vaccine reactions are normal and a sign that the body is building an immune response to protect your child from the flu. It is important to remember that the vaccine takes up to two weeks to reach full effectiveness.
- A 6-month-old baby is so small — why do they need to be vaccinated?
Babies do not yet have strong immune systems. The influenza virus can be in the air and on common surfaces, and you won’t know who has it in the early stages of contagion before they experience symptoms.
- Can babies’ immune systems be overwhelmed by getting multiple vaccines at the same time?
The amount of active ingredients in each vaccine is a tiny amount. Your baby can be exposed to much more in their daily environment.
Flu-related complications
As with many other viral illnesses, the body’s immune response is what determines the severity of the symptoms. While most people recover from the flu without problems, it can lead to bacterial infections, such as an ear infection, sinus infection or bronchitis. Less often, the flu may cause a more serious problem, such as pneumonia, which can lead to hospitalization. Children with an underlying chronic medical condition, such as lung, heart or kidney disease, an immune system condition, cancer, or diabetes are at especially high risk.
The flu can become an emergency when your child develops any of these symptoms:
- trouble breathing or unusually rapid breathing
- bluish lips or face
- ribs looking like they pull in with each breath
Contact your doctor and seek immediate care right away if you see any of these symptoms.
It is important to vaccinate your child as soon as you can to get the most protection and before the flu spreads widely.
Resources
- Unpacking 8 Youth Vaccine Myths With a Pediatrician
- Vaccines for Your Children By Age | CDC
- Make Shots Less Stressful for Your Child | Childhood Vaccines | CDC
* Note: Children with a previous allergic reaction after a dose of flu vaccine should be seen by an allergist, who can help parents decide if their child should receive an annual flu vaccination.