News from Nurse Abbe
The Importance of Flu Shots
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children get vaccinated for the flu in September or October.
• Flu season starts as early as October - but it takes a few weeks for a vaccine to do its work in the body to create immunity. By getting a flu shot now, your child’s immune defenses can be in place before the flu becomes widespread in the community.
DUE TO COVID-19, IT’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO GET FLU SHOTS.
When we get sick with one virus, our immune systems are weakened, and it puts us at a higher risk of catching another virus. That means that this year, there’s a risk of getting both the flu and coronavirus.
• If your child catches COVID-19 and has not had their flu shot, they may wind up with both illnesses at once. On the other hand, if your child has had their flu vaccine, they’re much less likely to catch the flu - and because they’ll be healthier overall, they’ll also be less likely to catch COVID-19.
CHILDREN AND ADULTS SHOULD GET A FLU VACCINATION EVERY YEAR.
• Vaccines become less effective over time, so the shot your child got last year will no longer do a good job of protecting them.
•There are often several different versions of the flu going around, and last year’s shot may not cover all of them. This year’s vaccine covers four flu strains, and three of the four strains were not in last year’s vaccine.
SOME CHILDREN WILL NEED A SECOND VACCINATION OR BOOSTER SHOT.
Your pediatrician will know your child’s individual needs. Here are some of the reasons your child might need a second vaccination - either weeks or months after their first flu shot.
• It is their first flu shot, and they are under age 8: Children typically receive their first flu shot when they are about six months old, but even if your child is up to age eight and it’s their first time, they’ll need a second dose about four weeks later. This is because young children’s immune systems don’t respond as strongly to vaccines as older children and adults. The first flu shot “primes” their immune system, and the second shot helps it actually develop the antibodies it needs to fight off the virus. (If, for some reason, your child is under eight and only previously had one dose of flu vaccine, they should get two doses of vaccine.)
• Immunocompromised: The immune system’s response to a vaccine wears off with time. For children with a typical immune system, this isn’t a problem: The flu shot now will get them through all of the flu season, as late as April or May. But a child who is immunocompromised (whose immune system is weakened, either by a disease or a medication) will need a booster shot, probably around January, to ensure their immune system is protected through the end of the flu season. Talk to your child’s doctor to decide the right path.
WHEN YOU SCHEDULE YOUR CHILD’S FLU VACCINATION, CATCH UP ON THEIR OTHER HEALTH NEEDS.
• Schedule a well visit with your pediatrician.
• Schedule any specialty care you may have been putting off - in many cases, you can connect with your pediatric experts right from home on telemedicine.
• If your child needs medical attention, don’t wait for a wide range of pediatric care, not just emergencies - including when your child’s regular doctor is not available.