MEDICAL SPOTLIGHT MEDICAL SPOTLIGHT
ASK A PHYSICIAN FIGHTING THE FLU
the injection site, muscle aches, headache or, uncommonly, low-grade fever. In general, flu shots are well tolerated by children and adolescents.
Q: How important is the flu vaccine for children? A: Children younger than 5 are at higher risk of developing serious complications from the flu, such as pneumonia, ear infections, and, uncommonly, death. Older children can also develop these complications. The flu vaccine has been shown to reduce flu illnesses, flurelated hospitalizations and deaths, doctor visits, and missed school days.Last year was a historically low rate of flu infections, likely due to measures to prevent COVID-19. Q: Should any child not get the vaccine?
Q: What are the types of flu vaccines and is one more preferable?
Dr. Shannon Ross is a Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Ross earned her medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. She completed her Pediatric Residency and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship at UAB.
A: Children younger than 6 months or those with severe, life-threatening allergies to any component of the flu vaccine should not receive the flu vaccine. Children with an egg allergy can get the flu shot. Q: Is it administered in one dose? A: Children 6 months through 8 years who have not received 2 or more total doses of any flu vaccine prior to July 2021 should receive 2 doses of the flu vaccine at least 4 weeks apart. Children 9 or older need 1 dose. Q: Should parents anticipate any side effects? A: Flu vaccines are very safe and rarely cause serious side effects. Side effects are usually mild and go away on their own within one to two days. Common side effects include soreness at 8 Bham Family October 2021
A: The two main types are an injection and a nasal spray. Both are quadrivalent, meaning they protect against four different flu virus strains. In general, one is not preferable over the other. The nasal spray is approved for children ages 2 and older. It cannot be given to children ages 2 to 4 with a history of asthma or wheezing. Q: What are some common misconceptions?
A: One of the most common misconceptions is that it can give you the flu. Vaccines do not cause flu illness. The vaccines are made with either killed/inactivated virus or a single protein from the flu virus. Another common misconception is that it is better to get sick with the flu than to get a vaccine. As flu can be a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and death, it is much safer to get the vaccine than to get the flu. Q: How soon after the vaccine is someone protected from the flu? A: It takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection. Q: When should the flu vaccine be administered? A: It is recommended that everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October.
