Last year’s flu season was a long, memorable one for many people. This year, Cottonwood Pediatrics hopes to see fewer children for the flu because parents took preventive steps. Here are a few questions we hear from parents:
Does my child need a flu shot?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends everyone ages 6 months and older to get the influenza vaccine annually. If you have babies younger than 6 months, everyone else in the household should be immunized. The flu caused thousands of deaths in the United States last year and some of them were previously healthy children.
Can my kids get a flu shot yet?
Everyone 6 months and older should schedule to get a flu shot starting on the last week of September/beginning of October. We require that kids are up to date on their yearly well-checks. Parents and other adults can get the immunization at their doctor’s office or at pharmacies.
Can’t we just get Tamiflu instead?
Antiviral medication is not a substitute for the flu shot. We received many calls asking for Tamiflu last year but parents should know that the medicine should be given within 48 hours of the first symptoms. The reactions from the medicine could be just as bad as the flu symptoms, so please do not skip the vaccine.
Will my child be 100% protected from the flu this once vaccinated?
The virus can mutate but your child’s immune system will have 3x more work if your child is not vaccinated.
Schedule everyone’s flu shot and teach appropriate hand hygiene and cough etiquette.
To learn more about the flu season please visit:
Prepare Your Family for Flu Season – healthychildren.org
AAP policy emphasizes importance of vaccination after high-severity flu season – aappublications.org