All children between six months and five years old should receive a flu shot, according to the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC wants to make sure parents are aware of these new guidelines, since their previous recommendation put the upper age at two. They also recommend that household contacts and caregivers of those at high risk get vaccinated. Here is a summary of their advice:
People who should get vaccinated each year are:
1. People at high risk for complications from the flu, including:
- Children aged 6—59 months,
- Pregnant women,
- People 50 years of age and older, and
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions;
- People who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities.
2. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
- Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu (see above)
- Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
- Healthcare workers.
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) warns that “At least half of the young children who are supposed to get annual flu shots haven’t been doing so. Among children with chronic medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease, about two-thirds are missing out on the vaccine.” Why does this matter? For children between two and five, flu-related illness causes more clinic and emergency room visits than any other. The NFID also advises that even though children under six months shouldn’t receive the vaccine, their parents and siblings should.
Vaccinations are another of those incendiary parenting issues. If you’re against it, ignore this post. If you’re for it, make sure you know the most recent guidelines. The CDC site has more details, including a list of who should not get the vaccine, possible side effects, and the use of the nasal-spray version.
