Note and answer questions when flu vaccination for children

You should not neglect a child's flu shot because the complications of the flu can have a lot of serious and even life-threatening consequences.

Newborn vaccination is one of the most important and necessary jobs to protect the health of children. Among the diseases that need prevention, with the flu, you must have your child vaccinated each year. Let aFamilyToday Health follow the article below to better understand this issue!

Benefits of flu vaccines

Every year, many children under the age of 5 are hospitalized for complications from the flu, such as pneumonia. The flu vaccine will help protect children from influenza viruses - viruses can cause serious illness or even death because children are very vulnerable to these viruses.

Notes around the flu shot

1. When should I get a flu shot?

All children 6 months through 5 years of age should get a flu shot every year. Vaccines are especially important for children and adolescents. This is the age at which the risk of complications from the flu is most likely. You need to get your baby vaccinated if he or she develops the following symptoms:

Have a chronic heart or lung disorder (such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis, asthma)

Have chronic medical conditions that weaken the immune system, such as immune deficiencies, cancer, HIV or are undergoing immunosuppressive treatment

Have diabetes or other metabolic disorders

Chronic kidney disease

Chronic anemia or hemoglobin disorder

Have a chronic neurological disorder

Severe obesity (BMI ≥40)

Use acetylsalicylic acid  (Aspilets®) (ASA or aspirin ) every day

Living with a child or adult is at risk of complications from the flu.

Children under 5 years old with the flu are at high risk of flu complications such as high fever, convulsions and pneumonia. If your child has these complications, you should get your baby vaccinated for the flu as soon as possible. If you are pregnant or have a baby under 6 months old, it is even more important to get the flu shot.

All pregnant women should get the vaccine because if mothers get the flu shot, their babies born (even during flu season) can still be fully protected from the flu for several months.

Doctors recommend that breastfeeding women also get the vaccine because babies younger than 6 months old should not get the flu shot (the shot is not effective for babies younger than 6 months). In addition, if the mother is vaccinated, antibodies to the flu will be passed to the baby through breast milk. In addition, babysitters or caregivers for children under 5 years of age need to be vaccinated.

2. Where should not get the influenza vaccine

Here are some situations in which your child should not be vaccinated:

Baby less than 6 months old

Your baby has had a serious reaction to a flu vaccine in the past.

If your baby is allergic to eggs or you suspect this, tell your doctor because the vaccine is grown in chicken eggs and may contain egg protein properties.

However, your baby can still get the flu vaccine if they only develop a rash from contact with eggs. If your baby has a more serious reaction to the egg, he or she can still be vaccinated under the strict medical supervision of the hospital.

If your baby is unwell or has a fever, you should let the doctor know.

3. Flu vaccination schedule

Everyone needs a flu shot every year, including children over 6 months of age. Your body will take about 2 weeks to produce the necessary antibodies, you should get vaccinated early to help your immune system complete before the flu season appears.

Answer questions about the flu vaccine for children

1. Does the vaccine change from year to year?

The vaccine will be renewed every year, every 6 months before the flu season, the vaccine is changed once. Scientists will study which viruses are circulating around the world at that time and try to predict which strains will spread the most during the upcoming flu season in a given country.

Each vaccine can protect your body against at least 3 different strains of the flu virus. Some other vaccines can also protect your body from 4 strains of the virus. Consult with your doctor to find out which vaccines are best suited for your baby.

2. Children need 1 dose or 2 doses of vaccine?

Most babies only need 1 dose of the flu vaccine. Children 6 months to 8 years of age who are or have had a previous dose of a vaccine need 2 consecutive shots at least 28 days apart. This time is extremely necessary for the child's body to build up the immune system after the second dose of injection.

3. Should the spray flu vaccine be used instead of the regular vaccination?

Doctors recommend that children not use the spray vaccine because it is not really effective. Instead, babies should still get a flu shot as usual. This is the most convenient, fastest and at the same time the most effective.

Studies show that, initially, the spray flu vaccine is very effective for children 2 years of age and older. After a large study, scientists found that, for three years in a row, the spray flu vaccine did not protect all children. Therefore, medical experts have rejected their previous recommendations.

4. What are the possible side effects of the flu vaccine?

The most common side effect of the flu vaccine (for both children and adults) is pain where the shot was given. Children, especially those who have never been infected with the flu virus, may experience a mild fever and feel pain and fatigue. These symptoms can last up to 2 days.

The allergic reactions are very rare but can also occur with any vaccine yet. Talk to your doctor about how to recognize if your child has any serious reactions.

If you have any questions about your child's flu vaccination, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor about this. Hope this article has provided you with lots of information. Please stay tuned about the prevention of flu for children in the next articles of aFamilyToday Health.