(Austin Compton is Cleveland County’s Family and Consumer Science Agent with the University of Arkansas System Cooperative Extension Service. Contact Austin via email at acompton@uada.edu or phone at (870) 325-6321.)
How serious is the flu?
While flu illness can vary from mild to severe, children often need medical care because of the flu. Children younger than 5 years old and children of any age with certain long-term health problems are at increased risks of flu complications like pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus and ear infections. Some health problems that are known to make children more vulnerable to flu include asthma, diabetes and disorders of the brain or nervous system.
How can I protect my child from the flu?
The first and best way to protect against the flu is to get a yearly flu vaccine for yourself and your child. Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months and older every year. Flu shots and nasal spray flu vaccines are both options for vaccination. It is also especially important that young children and children with certain long-term health problems get vaccinated.
Caregivers of children at higher risk of flu complications should also get a flu vaccine. Babies younger than six months are at higher risk for serious flu complications, but are too young to get a flu vaccine. Pregnant people should get the flu vaccine to protect themselves and their baby from the flu. Research shows that flu vaccination during pregnancy protects the baby from the flu for several months. Flu viruses are constantly changing so flu vaccines are updated often to protect against the flu viruses that research indicates are the most likely to cause illness during the upcoming flu season.
Are flu vaccines safe?
Flu vaccines have been an excellent safety record. Millions of people have safely received flu vaccines for decades. Flu shots and nasal spray flu vaccines are both options for vaccination. Different types of flu vaccines are licensed for different ages. Each person should get one that is appropriate for their age. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend an annual flu vaccine for all children 6 months and older.
What are the benefits of getting a flu vaccine?
A flu vaccine can keep you and your child from getting sick. When vaccine viruses and circulating viruses are matched, flu vaccination has been shown to reduce risk of getting sick with flu by about 40 to 60%. Flu vaccines can also keep your child from being hospitalized from the flu. One study showed that flu vaccine reduced children's risk of flu-related pediatric intensive care unit admission by 74%.
Flu Vaccine can be lifesaving in children. A study using data from recent flu seasons found that flu vaccine reduced the risk of flu-associated death by half among children with higher risk medical conditions and by nearly two-thirds among children without medical conditions. Flu vaccinations also may make your illness milder if you do happen to get sick. Getting yourself and your child vaccinated also can protect others who may be more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like babies and young children, older people, and people with certain long-term health problems.
What are some other ways I can protect my child against the flu?
In addition to getting a flu vaccine, you and your child should take everyday actions to help prevent the spread of germs.
Stay away from people who are sick as much as possible to keep from getting sick yourself. If you or your child are sick, avoid others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. Also, remember to regularly cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands often, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and clean surfaces that may be contaminated with flu viruses. These everyday actions can help reduce your chances of getting sick and prevent the spread of germs to others if you are sick. However, a yearly flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu illness.
Credit: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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