The Flu Shot at Your Baby’s Next Check-up

Your little one should have routine well-baby visits because the pediatrician is not just for when baby is sick. Regular visits check your child’s growth and progress. They also give your child’s healthcare provider a chance to update vaccines.

At your baby’s next check-up, as long as he or she is six months of age or older, be sure your child gets the flu vaccine. Children six months through eight years getting vaccinated for the first time need two doses.

Influenza is caused by a virus and can lead to fever, headache, sore throat, cough and muscle aches. It’s especially important for babies and young children to receive the vaccine as they are at a higher risk of developing severe flu-related complications, such as pneumonia. In rare cases, flu complications can lead to death.

A 2017 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that flu vaccination reduced the risk of flu-associated death by half among children with underlying high-risk medical conditions and by nearly two-thirds among healthy children.

In addition to the flu shot, to keep your child healthy, he or she should receive the recommended childhood vaccines. Many vaccines are given in a series of doses over a certain period of time. To be protected, your child needs each dose at the right time. Vaccines may cause mild side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of vaccines.