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Children and the Flu Vaccine
CDC recommends that healthy children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday, their close contacts (people who live with them), and out-of-home caregivers (nannies, daycare providers, etc.) should get a flu vaccine.
In addition, CDC also recommends influenza vaccination for any child aged 6 months and older with chronic health problems, including:
- asthma or other problems of the lungs;
- immune suppression;
- chronic kidney disease;
- heart disease;
- HIV/AIDS
- diabetes;
- sickle cell anemia; or
- long-term aspirin therapy;
- any condition that can compromise respiratory function.
Children less than 2 years old are more likely to be hospitalized by flu.
Children less than 2 years old—even healthy children—are at high risk of ending up in the hospital if they get the flu. Vaccinating young children, their families, and other caregivers can help protect them from getting sick.
The flu shot is not approved for use in children less than 6 months old.
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 their caregivers are vaccinated.
Children aged 2-5 years old have more doctor and emergency room visits.
Children 2-5 years old are likely to be taken to a doctor, an urgent care center, or the emergency room because of flu.
It is estimated that each year in the U.S., there are more than 20,000 children less than 5 years old who are hospitalized due to flu. To protect their health, all children 6 months and older should be vaccinated against the flu each year.
When to get children vaccinated:
Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, into December, January, and beyond. This is because the timing and duration of influenza seasons vary. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later.
Children 6 months up to 9 years of age getting a flu shot for the first time will need two doses of vaccine the first year they are vaccinated, with the first dose ideally being given in September or as soon as vaccine becomes available. The second dose should be given 28 or more days after the first dose. The first dose "primes" the immune system; the second dose provides immune protection. Children who only get one dose but who need two doses can have reduced or no protection from a single dose of flu vaccine. Two doses are necessary to protect these children. If your child needs the two doses, begin the process early, so that children are protected before influenza starts circulating in your community. Be sure to follow up to get your child a second dose if they need one. It usually takes about two weeks after the second dose for protection to begin.
Because flu viruses change every year, the vaccine is updated annually. So even if you or your children got a flu shot last year, you both still need to get a flu shot this season to be protected. If October and November slip by, and you haven’t gotten your children or yourself vaccinated, you should get vaccinated in December or later. )
- Page last updated July 16, 2008
- Content Source: Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID)
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
