Should Your Child Get a Flu Shot?
By: Charlotte Ames
Updated: October 19, 2012
If you don't want your child to get a flu vaccine, new research may change your mind. The Centers for Disease Control says flu complications killed more than 800 children over the past eight years.
Children under five are most vulnerable. Kids with chronic health problems like asthma and, diabetes and are at especially high risk of developing serious flu complications. But now a new CDC study shows that the flu vaccine is also critical for children who don't have health issues.
Researchers looked at pediatric flu related deaths and found 43 percent were in healthy children. According to Dr. Tamiko Jordan, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, "half the kids who die from the flu have no underlying medical problems and can die within 4 days of contracting the virus."
Another study shows schools that offer vaccinations have higher rates of attendance and lower rates of flu. At one elementary school, when nearly half the students were immunized, unvaccinated kids also appeared to receive some protection.
Doctors say kids spread the virus up to two days before they show symptoms and for up to 10 days after.
The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone over 6 months old .
Children under five are most vulnerable. Kids with chronic health problems like asthma and, diabetes and are at especially high risk of developing serious flu complications. But now a new CDC study shows that the flu vaccine is also critical for children who don't have health issues.
Researchers looked at pediatric flu related deaths and found 43 percent were in healthy children. According to Dr. Tamiko Jordan, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, "half the kids who die from the flu have no underlying medical problems and can die within 4 days of contracting the virus."
Another study shows schools that offer vaccinations have higher rates of attendance and lower rates of flu. At one elementary school, when nearly half the students were immunized, unvaccinated kids also appeared to receive some protection.
Doctors say kids spread the virus up to two days before they show symptoms and for up to 10 days after.
The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone over 6 months old .
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.