When Should My Child Get A Flu Vaccine
Doctors recommend that your child get a flu vaccine every year in the fall, starting when he or she is 6 months old. Some children 6 months through 8 years of age may need 2 doses for best protection.
- CDC recommends a flu vaccine by the end of October, before flu begins spreading in your community. Getting vaccinated later, however, can still be beneficial and vaccination should continue to be offered throughout the flu season, even into January or later.
- Children 6 months through 8 years getting a flu vaccine for the first time, and those who have only previously gotten one dose of flu vaccine, should get two doses of vaccine. The first dose should be given as soon as vaccine becomes available.
- If your child previously got two doses of flu vaccine , he only needs one dose of flu vaccine this season.
CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone ages six months and older. Pregnant women should get a flu vaccine during each pregnancy. Flu vaccines given during pregnancy help protect both the mother and her baby from flu.
Why The Flu Vaccine Is Reformulated Every Year
Welcome to National Influenza Vaccination Week, established in 2005 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to promote vaccination awareness to the general public. In that spirit, Dr. Sebeen Razzaq-Ahmed and the team here at East Meadow Medical P.C. remind you to get your annual flu vaccine. You may be one of the many people we hear ask why they need to get vaccinated each year. Well, were here to answer that for you!
Its no secret that influenza, commonly called the flu, is inconvenient, nasty, and downright deadly. The 2017-2018 flu season was among the worst on record, afflicting and killing more Americans about 80,000 than in any season dating back more than three decades. Because the flu is so common, not to mention so deadly, we always recommend that anyone whos able to gets an updated vaccine each year.
Research Backs Up Recommendation
British researchers have studied the effectiveness of administering COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time. They gave 340 adults aged 18 and older COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots and also gave 339 adults COVID-19 vaccines and placebo injections. The preprint study, which is not yet peer-reviewed, found that when people received flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time, it caused no health or safety concerns.
The study also found that administering both vaccines at the same time didnt diminish the bodys immune response to either virus. Additionally, pregnant women, older adults and people with severe health conditions people who are ideal candidates for flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines were included within the study, so the research should help to reassure people in those groups that getting simultaneous vaccinations is safe and effective.
Researchers have known for some time that when people receive two vaccinations at once, the body can identify each vaccine without confusion and develop an immune response to each, says Dr. Dutu. Also say that people should get both vaccines this flu season.
Don’t Miss: Alka Seltzer Cold And Flu And Ibuprofen
How Does Flu Spread
Flu spreads mainly by droplets when people who have flu talk, cough, or sneeze, and these droplets land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or are inhaled. Less often, a person might get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.
People can spread flu to others from one day before they have symptoms to 5-7 days after they get sick. This can be longer in children and people who are very sick.
Who Should Not Get The Nasal Flu Vaccine
- Children less than 2 years old .
- Those who are pregnant and people who have weakened immune systems. It is a live virus vaccine.
- People who have to take acetylsalicylic acid on a daily basis.
- People with severe asthma who have been treated with steroids or had severe wheezing in the past 7 days .
These people should get the injected vaccine.
Don’t Miss: Alka Seltzer Tablets Cold And Flu
More: What You Need To Know About Covid
Right now, the influenza vaccine is a different platform,” said Durbin. The most widely used flu vaccines in the US contain inactivated or attenuated virus to trigger an immune response in the body. This differs from mRNA vaccines which teach the body’s cells how to make proteins that trigger immune responses. The result is that they currently have to be given in separate shots.
While two of the three authorized COVID vaccines are based on mRNA technology, previous influenza vaccines have not utilized this technology. But now, Moderna and Pfizer are working on an mRNA flu vaccine.
In addition to differences in technology, an extra challenge is that the most common influenza vaccine in the U.S. is quadrivalent, meaning it is designed to protect against four different flu viruses.
This means the combined influenza/COVID vaccine would also likely need to be quadrivalent or at least trivalent. That makes the vaccine more complicated,” says Durbin.
Similarly, the rise of new COVID variants may introduce challenges to vaccine development.
Yes But Heres What To Know About Timing All Your Vaccines This Fall
by Michelle Crouch, AARP, September 10, 2021
En español | September and October are big months for flu shots, but this year, it’s also when COVID-19 booster shots could start rolling out. So you may be wondering: Is it OK to get your flu shot and COVID-19 booster at the same time?
Absolutely, health experts say. In fact, many doctors plan to encourage Americans to get both at once.
“It’s two for the price of one, says Ranit Mishori, M.D., a professor of family medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Get one in each arm. It’s an efficient and effective way to make sure you’re protected.” Mishori notes that the same goes for those who are immunocompromised and might want to time their third dose to their flu shot.
It’s important for older adults to get both shots this year because COVID-19 cases are surging, fueled by the spread of the more contagious delta variant, just as the flu season is set to begin. Both diseases are especially dangerous for those over 65.
Although the flu season was nonexistent last year, experts expect a comeback this year with K-12 students back in school, more people traveling and fewer COVID-19 restrictions in place.
You May Like: What Are The Symptoms Of The New Flu
What Is The Flu
Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory illness thats caused by the influenza virus. There are two main types of influenza virus: type A and type B. These main types are further subdivided into multiple subtypes and strains, including the well-known H1N1 strain. The effect each of these strains may have on you depends on your age and overall health.
If you have the flu, symptoms may include:
- Chills
- Headaches
- Fatigue
In more extreme cases, you may experience vomiting and diarrhea. Although symptoms tend to emerge suddenly, you may find yourself experiencing a milder version in the early stages of the virus. Its also important to note that you may be a carrier for the virus even if you arent experiencing any symptoms yourself.
Can You Get A Covid Booster And A Flu Shot Together Heres What You Need To Know
Why?
Follow this story and more bysigning up for national breaking news email alerts.
With flu season swiftly approaching in a country already battling a resurgence of the coronavirus, experts are urging Americans to avail themselves of any and all vaccines they are eligible for whether its their first coronavirus vaccination, a booster vaccine dose to combat waning immunity or a flu shot.
Its terribly important to get both the flu and coronavirus vaccines, said William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. They are both very nasty respiratory viruses that can make many people very, very sick.
And because the coronavirus and flu vaccines train your immune system to protect you against completely different viruses, getting a shot that protects you against one virus will not offer any protection against the other, said Kelly Moore, president and CEO of the Immunization Action Coalition.
Its like protecting yourself against a bee and a wasp, both of which can sting you, Schaffner said. Youve got to protect yourself against each one separately.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone be vaccinated against the flu by the end of October. This year, that time frame could overlap with the period when many Americans may become eligible for a booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
Don’t Miss: Chances Of Catching The Flu
What To Know About Getting A Covid Booster Shot
Learn more from Marcus Pereira, MD, about COVID boosters at NYP’s Health Matters website.
Pereira: Scientists from the FDA and CDC have closely monitored data and confirmed that vaccine protection may decrease over time. For example, studies in the United States have found that among essential workers, vaccine effectiveness against infection waned in July, though severe disease remained rare.
Are booster shots safe?
Pereira: Yes, booster shots are proven to be safe. Pfizer released a study of 10,000 participants in which half of them received a booster dose and half a placebo. In terms of safety, they found no new adverse events, meaning it was consistent with what has been seen in previous studies. For those concerned about myocarditis or pericarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle or the outer lining of the heart, no cases of either were observed. In fact, the placebo group had more serious adverse events than the booster group.
Who should get a booster shot, and when?
Get Your Flu Shot Covid
Have you had your flu shot yet? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone over 6 months get a flu shot every season with rare exceptions.
Now amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu. And you can get both shots at the same time.
“In most places, flu starts circulating by November, December. So it’s recommended that everyone complete their flu vaccine by October,” says Priya Sampathkumar, M.D., a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases specialist.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, communities are on the verge of another flu season. This year, it’s more important than ever to be vaccinated for influenza as soon as possible.
“It’s possible that the viruses that cause COVID-19 and the flu may spread in your community at the same time during flu season,” says Emily Majerus, a physician assistant in Family Medicine in Austin, Minnesota, and the mobile health clinic. “If this happens, people could become ill with COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. Getting vaccinated for both COVID-19 and the flu can reduce their spread.”
Flu cases were low in 2020. And health experts attribute that to the COVID-19 pandemic and the preventive measures put in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Flu and COVID-19 are caused by respiratory viruses and have similar symptoms.
And if you haven’t been vaccinated for COVID-19 yet, or need a third or booster vaccination, you can get vaccinated for flu and COVID-19 at the same time.
Recommended Reading: Is Cvs Giving Flu Shots
Will Being Vaccinated Against Flu Pneumonia And Shingles Help Prevent Covid
The short answer is no. But reducing your risk for getting sick with the flu, pneumonia, or shingles which is what these vaccines do makes a lot of sense during the pandemic, Privor-Dumm says.
Lowering your risk for vaccine-preventable diseases will help you avoid doctors offices and hospitals, which will reduce any potential exposure to the coronavirus, Privor-Dumm adds.
Plus, Privor-Dumm says, Preventing serious disease can help keep you out of the hospital at a time when health resources may be needed to treat COVID-19 patients.
Is It Safe To Get A Covid
The short answer? Yes! You may be confused if you’ve heard advice against this tactic, though, as previously CDC officials recommended waiting at least two weeks between a COVID-19 vaccine and any other shot. After having almost a full year to monitor these new vaccines, the agency has updated its instructions to reflect the current understanding of vaccination in general, as immune responses are usually unaffected by receiving more than one vaccine at a time. “You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines in the same visit,” Dr. Walensky says. “CDCs recommendation has been updated so that you no longer need to wait 14 days between getting your COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccinations.”
Currently, CDC officers are working to further educate professionals from physicians to pharmacists on administering the flu shot alongside other vaccines. “Based on our prior experience and knowledge of immunology, we do not anticipate any unusual or unexpected safety problems with receiving COVID-19 vaccines and flu vaccines at the same time,” she adds.
You May Like: Advil Multi Symptom Cold And Flu Dosage
What Is A Covid
A COVID booster shot is an additional dose of a vaccine given after the protection provided by the original shot has begun to decrease over time. Typically, you would get a booster after the immunity from the initial dose naturally starts to wane. The booster is designed to help people maintain their level of immunity for longer.
What This Means For You
Early studies suggest that while side effects will vary by person, most people will experience only minor or moderate discomfort after receiving a COVID-19 booster shot. Any side effects are expected to diminish within 48 hours. In some places, like New York state, employers are required to grant workers paid time off to recover from vaccine side effects. Talk to your doctor and employer if youre concerned about the side effects of a booster shot and how to plan for them.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.
Read Also: Expired Cold And Flu Medicine
Why The Cdc Updated Its Guidance
When the COVID-19 vaccines first came out, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended not getting other vaccines for 14 days before and after each COVID-19 dose.
The agency changed its guidance in May after data showed that the COVID-19 vaccine was safe and that other vaccines would not interfere with the immune response, experts say.
“That was because we wanted to really assess the side effects of the COVID vaccine as we rolled it out. We didn’t want to get that confused by giving other vaccines at the same time, says William Schaffner, M.D., a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Now, the CDC says COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines can be administered without regard to timing. This includes simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines on the same day, as well as coadministration within 14 days.
How To Book Your Appointment
If you’re eligible for a free flu vaccine, you can book an appointment at your GP surgery or a pharmacy that offers it on the NHS.
You may also get an invitation to get the vaccine, but you do not have to wait for this before booking an appointment.
Everyone who is eligible for the free flu vaccine will be able to get it.
GP surgeries and pharmacies get the flu vaccine in batches. If you cannot get an appointment straight away, ask if you can book an appointment for when more vaccines are available.
If you have an appointment for a COVID-19 booster vaccine at a GP surgery or pharmacy, you may also be offered a flu vaccine at the same time.
Do not delay booking your flu vaccine appointment so that you can get both vaccines together. Only some people will be offered both vaccines at the same time.
Also Check: Does Medicare Cover The High Dose Flu Vaccine
Is Flu Illness Serious
Millions of children get sick with flu each year and thousands are hospitalized. CDC estimates that since 2010, between 7,000 and 28,000 children younger than 5 years old have been hospitalized for flu each year in the United States. Children with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, and disorders of the brain or nervous system, and children younger than 5 years old are more likely to end up in the hospital from flu.
Some people at high risk can develop complications that can result in hospitalization and even death.
Flu seasons vary in how serious they are from one season to another. Since 2010, CDC estimates that between 130 and 1,200 children have died from flu each year.
Getting A Flu Vaccine During The Covid
Yes. Getting a flu vaccine is an essential part of protecting your health and your familys health every year. Take recommended precautions to protect yourself from COVID-19 while getting your flu vaccine.
Yes. Wearing a mask and physical distancing can help protect you and others from respiratory viruses, like flu and the virus that causes COVID-19. However, the best way to reduce your risk of flu illness and its potentially serious complications is for everyone 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine each year. By getting a flu vaccine, you may also be protecting people around you who are more vulnerable to serious flu complications.
Yes, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same time.
Even though both vaccines can be given at the same visit, people should follow the recommended schedule for either vaccine: If you havent gotten your currently recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine, get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can, and ideally get a flu vaccine by the end of October.
While limited data exist on giving COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines, including flu vaccines, experience with giving other vaccines together has shown the way our bodies develop protection and possible side effects are generally similar whether vaccines are given alone or with other vaccines.
If you have concerns about getting both vaccines at the same time, you should speak with a health care provider.
Don’t Miss: Does Medicare Cover Flu Vaccine