Seasonal Flu Information for Schools & Childcare Providers
Educators and staff can help slow the spread of colds and flu. On this page, you will find information on preventing the flu as well as materials and tools for schools.
Each year, an average of 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized because of flu-related complications. Influenza causes more hospitalizations among young children than any other vaccine-preventable disease. The single best way to protect against seasonal flu and its potential severe complications is for children to get a seasonal influenza vaccine each year. Flu vaccination is recommended for all children aged 6 months and older. Making healthy choices at school and at home can help prevent the flu and spreading flu to others.
Encourage children, parents, and staff to take the following everyday preventive actions [2 MB, 2 pages]:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after use and wash your hands. If a tissue is not available, cover your mouth and nose with your sleeve, not your hand.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
School-Located Vaccination
- School-Located Vaccination Planning Materials and Templates
- Influenza School-located Vaccination (SLV): Information for Planners
Guidance and Resources
- Guidance for School Administrators to Help Reduce the Spread of Seasonal Influenza in K-12 Schools
This document provides seasonal flu recommendations for K-12 schools. - New! Supplemental Interim Guidance for School Administrators Associated with Possible Outbreaks of H3N2 Variant Influenza Virus ("H3N2v")
- How To Clean and Disinfect Schools to Help Slow the Spread of Flu
This guide gives K-12 schools tips on how to clean to help slow the spread of seasonal flu. A Spanish version is also available. - Questions and Answers: Information for Schools
This page provides answers to questions commonly asked by school administrators, teachers, staff, and parents. - Flu Information for Parents
Flu is more dangerous than the common cold for children. Learn more. - Children, the Flu, and the Flu Vaccine
This page provides information about children and the flu vaccine. - Protecting Against the Flu: Advice for Caregivers of Children Less Than 6 Months Old
Research has shown that children less than 5 years of age are at high risk of serious flu-related complications. Learn more. - The Flu: A Guide for Parents [252 KB, 2 pages]
This guide discusses questions and answers about the flu, how to protect your child, treatment, and more. - Stopping Germs at Home, Work and School
This page provides information about how to slow the spread of flu. - Snort. Sniffle. Sneeze. No Antibiotics Please!
This page provides brochures that explain why antibiotics don’t work for a cold or the flu. - Ounce of Prevention
This page provides tips and streaming video for parents and children about the steps and benefits of effective hand washing. - Flu Season and Schools
This site provides guidance from the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS).
School Materials and Posters
Cover Your Cough Materials
See the Cover Your Cough page on this site for posters and flyers formatted for use in schools.
“It’s a SNAP” Toolkit
Program Materials to Help Prevent School Absenteeism
This toolkit provides activities for school administrators, teachers, students, and others to help stop the spread of germs in schools. For more information, visit the hand cleaning section of the “It’s a SNAP” web site.
Scrub Club
Kids can learn about health and hygiene at the Scrub Club™ web site. The site features a fun and educational animated Webisode with seven “soaper-heros” who battle nasty villains representing germs and bacteria. Kids learn the six key steps to proper handwashing through a webisode, a handwashing song, interactive games, and activities for kids. Educational materials for teachers are also available to download.
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348 - cdcinfo@cdc.gov