Can My Child Still Get a Flu Shot?
by jenfooteThe flu season is in full swing and depending on where you live you still have up to three months of \ flu season remaining. Individuals, including children, are urged to get their flu shot in September; however, it is sometimes possible for a child to get a flu shot later on in the season.
Flu shots are a great way to protect all kinds of children from getting the flu. Healthcare physicians urge parents to understand that infants aged six months to twenty-four months need a flu shot. This age group is more likely to develop a more serve case of the flu. In recent years when there has been a shortage in flu vaccines many flu clinics were limited only to high risk patients which included infants.
After October or November there are not a large number of flu clinics being offered at local supermarkets or department stores. These clinics are the only way that a number of families can afford to have their child vaccinated from the flu. Parents who make the decision to give their child a flu shot later in the season are usually required to visit their local hospital or physician. It is not a guarantee that these establishments will still have the vaccine available; however, they may be able to point parents in the right direction if they don’t.
Parents are encouraged to keep an eye on the flu season and flu shots beginning around September and October. Many children getting the flu shot for the first time are required to have two separate injections. The flu vaccine needs a few weeks to protect the body from illness; therefore, parents are encouraged to think about their children and the flu vaccine before it is too late.
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