It’s that time of year again, time for the annual flu shot. Flu shots can be given as early as September, but the prime time of year is October and November. Everyone who is going to get one, especially children, should try to get the flu shot completed by November. Children who are less than 9 years old and have not received a vaccine in previous years require two doses. It appears that this year there will be a good supply of vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for all children 6 to 59 months of age and anyone who lives in the house or cares for the child this age. The vaccine is recommended for pregnant women and those who may become pregnant during flu season, and it is safe to give to breastfeeding mothers (these recommendations apply to the regular flu shot, not the intranasal vaccine).
The vaccine continues to be recommended for anyone with asthma, diabetes, neuromuscular disorders, and a variety of other chronic diseases; it is also recommended for everyone 50 years old or older, for all healthcare workers, and for residents of chronic care facilities and for household contacts of anyone in one of these high-risk groups.
The flu can be a serious disease; each year over 36,000 people die in the United States from the flu or its complications. It can be prevented; the vaccine is highly effective most years. Be sure to get your child vaccinated early before the flu reaches Georgia.