FIVE REASONS WHY YOUR CHILD NEEDS A FLU SHOT

Flu season is around the corner. Influenza, the virus that causes the flu, is a respiratory virus that can seriously impact your child’s health. Common symptoms include a sudden onset of high fever, sore throat, fatigue, body aches, and cough. This is not your run of the mill common cold. Some children can develop pneumonia or end up in the hospital from the flu.

Luckily, there is a vaccine to help protect your child and your family from the flu. Here are five reasons your child should get a flu shot this year:

1. Reduce their risk of getting the flu.
2. Can make illness less severe for kids who get vaccinated but still get sick with flu, reducing the risk of hospitalization.
3. Reduce the chances of your child missing school or childcare (and you from having to miss work).
4. Reduce the high risk of developing serious flu complications (this is especially true if your child is younger than five years old or is any age with certain chronic health conditions).
5. Help prevent spreading flu to family and friends, including babies under six months of age who are too young to get a flu vaccine.