Keep the Flu at Bay: Vaccinate Your Children to Keep Them Well This Holiday Season

By Jessica Gordon

‘Tis the season for turkey dinners, Christmas trees, visits from Santa…and the sore throats, runny noses and high fevers that come with the flu. According to local pediatrician Dr. Todd Habel, your best shot for a healthy holiday season is to vaccinate your children (and yourself) against the flu.

“We definitely recommend the flu shot,” says Habel, who practices at Muddy Creek Pediatrics in Mason. “We are trying to give it early, during checkups and regular visits for other things so we can capture as many people as possible.”

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that anyone who wants to lower his or her chances of getting the flu be vaccinated. In particular, the CDC recommends that all children from ages six months through nineteen years be vaccinated. According to the CDC, flu season runs from September through January, and you should be vaccinated as early in the season as possible.

And if the idea of dragging your kid kicking and screaming to get a scary shot makes you sicker than the flu bug, just ask for FluMist, a flu vaccine that’s administered nasally.

FluMist was approved by the FDA in 2003, and it’s been gaining in popularity ever since. Unlike the flu shot, which contains three strains of inactive flu viruses, the nasal spray contains three very weak live viruses. Dr. Habel believes the mist is the most effective vaccine against the flu, since the live viruses encourage even stronger immunities to develop. “I personally take the mist,” he says.

Both the shot and the mist are completely safe and do not cause patients to catch the flu. The shot is approved for use in all people from age six months and up. The mist is approved for people from two years through 49 years old.

However, asthmatic children should not take the nasal mist. “If you have any history of asthma, you can’t take the mist—the incidence of wheezing is children with asthma goes up after taking the flu mist,” explains Dr. Habel. You also shouldn’t be vaccinated with either the shot or the mist if you are ill and have a fever. Wait until you recover before being vaccinated. Finally, anyone who has a compromised immune system should not be vaccinated.

Although the flu vaccine is completely safe, there is a possibility of mild side effects, including low-grade fever, muscle aches and other flu-like symptoms. Any side effects shouldn’t last longer than one or two days, according to the CDC.

For more information on the flu vaccination, check out these Web sites:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

http://www.flumist.com/