Flu Vaccine

The influenza vaccine, an inactivated or killed vaccine, is changed each year to keep up with the most common strains of the virus.  It is available for children over the age of six months.  It is recommended that children under the age of nine, who have never received the vaccine before, receive two doses of the vaccine at least one month apart to improve response.  Children over nine and younger children who have received previous shots need only to receive a single injection each year.

Some of the side effects with the influenza vaccine are usually mild and may include soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given, fever, and/or aches, and usually only last for 1-2 days. Children under 12 years should receive the 'split virus' influenza shot, which is associated with fever side effects than the 'whole virus' influenza vaccine. Children over 12 years and adults can receive either the split virus or whole virus influenza vaccine.