Along with other vaccines, flu vaccine is also very important for children. Influenza (flu) is an infection of the respiratory system caused by the influenza virus. Mostly children below 5 years of age get this flu.
Flu vaccination for children has proven to be the best protection against the flu virus. This way it prevents it from spreading to others. By using the flu vaccine, the morbidity and mortality of flu can be prevented.
Why is the flu vaccine important for children?
Influenza is more dangerous than the common cold in children. Every year millions of children fall ill with flu. Thousands are admitted to hospitals and some people die due to flu. Mostly small children become victims of this. Toddlers, children with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women are at risk for influenza-like pneumonia.
Vaccination is currently the best way to prevent flu. About 50-60% of children who have been vaccinated have less risk of flu.
When to get a flu vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends influenza vaccination for everyone ages 6 months and older, including children and teens. Children younger than 6 months are not eligible for this vaccine. This vaccine is mandatory for all children below 5 years of age. The composition of the vaccine is changed every year after assessing the composition of the influenza virus strains. Flu viruses are constantly evolving and hence the vaccine is made more effective.
Influenza vaccine in children:
| Age | vaccine dose | vaccination before and after |
| 6-35 months | 2 doses (0. 5ml) |
2 doses |
| 3-8 years | 0.5 ml | 2 doses |
| above 9 years | 1 dose |
Where to get the flu vaccine:
These are available in children’s hospitals. But if you want to get vaccinated from somewhere else, then pay attention to the following options:
- Your local or revenue health department is a good option.
- Pharmacists, grocery stores, community centres, temples, schools, and other places sometimes set up camps for vaccination.
- Be alert for advertisements and notices about the flu vaccine.
- Flu vaccines are not that expensive, but most insurance plans cover childhood immunizations for children.
It doesn’t matter the type of influenza vaccine, but make sure you get your child vaccinated for flu as it is most common in children under 4 years of age. Flu vaccine can also be given with other vaccines. But on a different side of the body. Flu vaccine in children may cause mild side effects like nausea, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain. But this is not a serious problem, these symptoms get cured on their own. It is not a guarantee that your child will never get flu after flu vaccination, but it is an assurance that the vaccinated child will not get serious flu.