When Can a Baby Get the Flu Vaccine
Influenza vaccine
Influenza (or "flu") is a respiratory infection caused past influenza virus. Flu outbreaks happen every year.
Influenza vaccination is safe for anyone 6 months of historic period and older. It protects yous and those around you lot from the flu and its complications. Considering influenza viruses change – often from yr to twelvemonth – people don't stay immune for very long. Influenza shots are commonly given in one case a year starting in October. The shots provide protection throughout the flu season — October to April.
Should my child become a flu shot?
Aye. All children over 6 months sometime should become a flu shot each year.
Babies and children 6 months to 9 years of age who have never had a influenza shot volition demand 2 doses of the vaccine, given at least 4 weeks autonomously.
Those who have had one or more doses of the regular seasonal flu shot in the by, or children 9 years of historic period and older, will only need one dose per yr.
The vaccine is especially of import for children and youth who are at high risk of complications from the flu, including those who:
- are between six months and five years of age.
- have chronic heart or lung disorders (such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis, asthma) serious enough to demand regular medical follow-up.
- accept chronic conditions that weaken the immune organisation, such as allowed deficiencies, cancer, HIV or a handling that causes allowed suppression.
- accept diabetes or other metabolic diseases.
- have chronic kidney disease.
- have chronic anemia or a blood disorder.
- have a chronic neurological or neurodevelopmental disorder.
- are severely obese (body mass index ≥40).
- are significant.
- take to accept acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or Aspirin) on a daily basis.
- live in a chronic care facility.
- alive in First Nation or Inuit communities.
- live with another kid or adult who is at adventure of complications from the flu.
Children under 5 years old are at higher risk of complications from the flu – such as high fever, convulsions and pneumonia. If y'all accept children younger than 5 years sometime or who have health complications, anybody living in the business firm should go a flu shot. This is peculiarly important if you have children under half dozen months old or if a member of your household is pregnant.
Caregivers who take care of children less than 5 years of age should too be immunized.
How safe is the flu vaccine?
The influenza vaccine is very safe. It cannot cause the flu. Side effects are usually mild and can include:
- mild soreness where the needle went into the arm for 1 to 2 days.
- a mild fever or aches for the first day or ii afterward immunization.
Exercise non give your child ibuprofen or acetaminophen earlier or around the time of vaccination equally it does non prevent the pain of injection and information technology could have an impact on how well the vaccine works. These medications can be used to care for fever, hurting, or other bothersome side effects if they develop subsequently vaccination.
Can my child get the influenza vaccine at the same time as another childhood vaccine, including the COVID-19 vaccine?
Yeah. It is safe to go the seasonal flu vaccine (shot or nasal) at the same time as (or whatsoever time before/after) any childhood vaccine, including the COVID-19 vaccine. Many children are backside with their childhood vaccines or boosters because of the COVID-19 pandemic and getting the vaccines at the aforementioned time can help them catch up more rapidly.
For children five to 11 years old, it may be best to await at least 14 days between the COVID-nineteen and other vaccines. The reason for this is that if whatever side furnishings happen, doctors will know which vaccine they are related to. Only only space out vaccines if you lot are certain that no other vaccines your child needs will exist given belatedly.
I'm pregnant. Is it prophylactic to get the influenza shot?
Yep, the influenza shot is safety. Those who are meaning should be immunized. Infants born during flu season to mothers who got a flu shot are ordinarily protected against the flu for a few months. The flu shot is likewise safe and highly recommended for those breastfeeding. Since infants less than 6 months of historic period cannot get the flu shot (it won't work), antibodies against the influenza are transferred through breast milk.
Who should Not get the influenza shot?
Very few children should NOT go a flu shot:
- Babies under vi months of historic period. Although the vaccine is not harmful to babies less than 6 months one-time, it does not work.
- If your child has a serious allergy to thimerosal (a preservative in contact lens solutions and the flu vaccine), a thimerosal-free vaccine should be given.
The influenza vaccine is safe for individuals with an egg allergy.
What is the nasal flu vaccine (FluMist)?
This type of flu vaccine (brand name: FluMist) is given as a nose spray instead of injection. Healthy children over the age of two can get the nasal flu vaccine. If your child has a chronic status or illness, you should speak to your doctor to find out if the nasal influenza vaccine is appropriate. The vaccine is given in 1 or two doses. Each dose is one squirt into each nostril.
- If your kid is nether 9 years of age and has received any influenza vaccine before, they volition simply need 1 dose.
- If your child is under 9 years of age and hasn't received a flu vaccine earlier, they will need 2 doses, given at to the lowest degree 4 weeks apart.
This type of flu vaccine is not covered by all provincial or territorial wellness plans, which ways y'all may have to pay for it.
Who should not go the nasal flu vaccine?
- Children less than 2 years old (vaccine may cause wheezing).
- Those who are pregnant and people who have weakened immune systems. It is a live (weakened) virus vaccine.
- People who have to take acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or Aspirin) on a daily footing.
- People with severe asthma who have been treated with steroids or had astringent wheezing in the past 7 days (the vaccine may make the wheezing worse).
These people should go the injected vaccine.
Reviewed by the following CPS committees
- Infectious Diseases and Immunization Commission
Last updated: Oct 2021
Source: https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/immunization/influenza_vaccine
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