The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that about 90 children under the age of 5 die of influenza each year in the United States. However, more and more pediatricians are now recommending that your little ones get the vaccine.
If you’re concerned that the flu shot may have negative side effects, rest assured that they are safe for babies and toddlers. According to the biggest study ever, following 45,000 children, researchers found virtually no side effects that required medical treatment in the children during the first 6 weeks after vaccination. They also noted that flu vaccines have a safe history overall. While there were a few more cases of nausea and diarrhea than were expected, it was only 13 cases–a very low number out of 45,000 kids studied.
How Does It Work?
The vaccine is a killed form of the most popular strains of the influenza virus. When you get your shots, your body responds to the viral material by producing antibodies against it. Therefore, when you do catch the flu strain going around, you already have antibodies built up and you’re not as likely to get sick.
It is 90% effective among a healthy population. Although its effectiveness can be as low as 30% among the frail and elderly. The shot’s effectiveness is highly dependent on the similarities between the influenza strains contained in the shot and the influenza strains that are actually going around.
Who Should and should not Get the Vaccine?
Children ages six months to 6 years are recommended to receive the vaccine. Also, anyone else who is at risk of developing serious complications if they were to get sick with the flu. Pregnant women in their 2nd or 3rd trimester should also get the shot as well as anyone exposed to lots of people. (Health care workers, teachers or day care workers, etc.)
However, people should not get the shot if they are allergic to eggs. Also if your child has had any allergic reaction to any other vaccine they should consider not getting the shot. If your child has a fever, you should probably wait until the symptoms are gone before getting him/her the shot.
If you’re unsure, it is definitely worth speaking with your health care provider. Researchers also noted that children who had the vaccine, didn’t have nearly as many ear infections. They think this is because parents, being assured that it wasn’t “just the flu” were more attentive to early warning symptoms of ear infections.
In any case, as a mother of 5 children ages 7 and under–I can tell you I will do just about anything to avoid illnesses. Once one kid gets it. . .we all get it.
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