Protect Your Child from the Flu
February 21, 2007
You’ve likely seen or read news stories about the flu in the last week. It’s not too late to protect your child from the flu.
Flu vaccine offers the best protection. Check with your child’s primary care doctor to see if flu shots are available in their office. The shots are also available at public health clinics and many drug stores. It takes one to two weeks for the flu vaccine to be fully effective, but the flu season often lasts until April. Talk with your child’s doctor before getting the shot if your child has ever had a serious allergic reaction to eggs or to a prior dose of the flu vaccine.
You can also reduce the spread of flu through frequent hand cleaning (with soap and water or hand sanitizer), staying home from work and school when sick, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue and avoiding close contact with sick persons.
If your child has the flu, see a doctor right away if they have a hard time breathing, chest pain, stomach pain, bluish color to the skin or lips, a high temperature that lasts more than a few days, is not able to drink liquids or is not able to interact with you. Caregivers know their children best — if your child seems sicker than other times when they’ve been sick and you are concerned, contact your child’s health-care provider.
Learn more about how to protect your child from the flu:
Learn more about the flu: