Flu Shot (Influenza Vaccine)
What is the flu?
The flu (influenza) is a disease caused by viruses. Each winter many people get the flu. Influenza causes a fever, muscle aches, sore throat, cough, and tiredness that may last for several days. The disease can usually be prevented by getting a vaccine, commonly called a flu shot.
Who should get a flu shot?
Healthy children age 6 months to 5 years should routinely get a flu shot. Those less than 2 years old are at a greater risk of getting severely ill or needing to go to the hospital because of the flu.
A flu shot is also recommended each year for children ages 6 months and older if they have certain medical risk factors. These risk factors include:
- Asthma or other lung disease
- Congenital heart disease with defects that require medications or surgery or other heart disease
- Glomerulonephritis, kidney failure, or other kidney disease
- Diabetes or other metabolic disease
- Sickle cell disease or other anemia
- Immune system problems caused by a disease or medicine
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or any other disease needing aspirin therapy.
Other people who should have a flu shot include:
- People over 50 years of age or older
- Women who will be in the fourth to ninth month(s) of pregnancy during the influenza season
- Residents of nursing homes or chronic care facilities.
If you have an otherwise healthy child and want your child to avoid getting the flu, your child may get a flu shot.
When are flu shots given?
A flu shot can be given at the same time as any routine vaccine. Your child should get the shot between September and mid-November, if possible. Protection from the influenza virus usually lasts only for 1 year.
For more information about the vaccine, ask your health care provider for an Influenza Vaccine Information Statement. If your child has an allergy to eggs or a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome, talk to your provider about these problems before getting the flu shot.
Are there any other considerations?
A flu shot contains a very small amount of a preservative called thimerosal. This is an ethyl mercury-based compound. Research has shown that the amount of mercury in an influenza shot is not harmful.
