What is the
flu?
The flu (influenza) is a disease caused by
viruses. Each winter many people get the flu. Influenza
causes a fever, muscle aches, sore throat, cough, and
tiredness that may last for several days. The disease can
usually be prevented by getting a vaccine, commonly called a
flu shot.
Who should
get a flu shot?
Healthy children age 6 months to 5 years
should routinely get a flu shot. Those less than 2 years old
are at a greater risk of needing to be put in the hospital
because of the flu.
A flu shot is also recommended each year for
children ages 6 months and older if they have certain
medical risk factors. These risk factors include:
- Asthma or other lung disease
- Congenital heart disease with defects
that require medications or surgery or other heart
disease
- Glomerulonephritis, kidney failure, or
other kidney disease
- Diabetes or other metabolic disease
- Sickle cell disease or other anemia
- Immune system problems caused by a
disease or medicine
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or any
other disease needing aspirin therapy.
Other people who should have a flu shot include:
- People over 50 years of age or older
- Women who will be in the fourth to
ninth month(s) of pregnancy during the influenza season
- Residents of nursing homes or chronic
care facilities.
If you have an otherwise healthy child and want your child
to avoid getting the flu, your child may get a flu shot.
Are there
other ways to get the vaccine?
An alternative to flu shots is FluMist. It
is a nasal spray form of the vaccine for children over 5
years of age. It costs more than the shot. As with flu
shots, your child will need a new dose of FluMist every
year. Unlike the shot, FluMist is a live virus vaccine. For
this reason pregnant women and children with weakened immune
systems, asthma, or certain other medical conditions cannot
take the nasal spray.
When are flu
shots given?
A flu shot can be given at the same time as
any routine vaccine. Your child should get the shot between
September and mid-November, if possible. Protection from the
influenza virus usually lasts only for 1 year.
For more information about the vaccine, ask
your health care provider for an Influenza Vaccine
Information Statement. If your child has an allergy to eggs
or a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome, talk to your
provider about these problems before getting the flu shot.
Are there any
other considerations?
Mild symptoms after a flu shot include
soreness at the site of the shot, fever, and body aches.
These problems usually last for one or two days. Serious
complications are very rare. Ask your health care provider
for a Vaccine Information Statement from the Centers for
Disease Control for more information.
A flu shot contains a very small amount of a
preservative called thimerosal. This is an ethyl
mercury-based compound. Research has shown that the amount
of mercury in an influenza shot is not harmful.
