Commonly known as flu, influenza is a highly contagious viral infection that occurs in outbreaks worldwide, usually during the winter in the United States. Young children and those with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe or complicated influenza infection. Immunizing all children (and adults) can help decrease this risk.
Immunization against influenza is recommended for all children age 6 months to 18 years.
Timing and dose — There are two types of influenza vaccine; one is injected while the other is given as a nasal spray. The injection is approved for adults and children 6 months and older, while the intranasal spray is approved only for people between 24 months and 49 years.
People who have a weakened immune system or who have chronic heart, lung, kidney, or metabolic disease should not use the intranasal spray since it contains live virus that has been weakened. Household contacts of those who have severely weakened immune systems should also not receive the intranasal spray.
The influenza viruses change every year, which means that a reformulated vaccine must be given every year (in the fall). In the first year that a child (younger than age 10 years) receives the vaccine, two doses are recommended; the second dose is given at least one month after the first. The influenza vaccine does not prevent illnesses such as the common cold or strep throat.
Influenza vaccine precautions — Both forms of the influenza vaccine are prepared with chicken eggs. Thus, children who have had a severe allergic reaction to chicken or egg proteins should not be given the vaccine (show table 4). However, for children with a history of these allergies, the vaccine may be given under supervision of an allergist.
Injectable influenza vaccine precautions — Vaccination may be delayed in children with a fever until their symptoms have resolved. However, immunization does not need to be delayed in children with mild illnesses that do not cause a fever. The most common side effect of the injectable vaccine is redness and soreness at the injection site. A low-grade fever may develop after vaccination, particularly in children younger than 2 years.
Nasal spray influenza vaccine precautions — The nasal spray form of influenza vaccine is not recommended for children who take aspirin daily and those with a weakened immune system, Guillain-Barré syndrome, asthma, and other conditions (eg, chronic lung or heart problems, pregnancy, chronic metabolic disease, kidney dysfunction, and blood disorders). The nasal spray vaccine is not recommended for children younger than 24 months.
Influenza vaccine effectiveness — The injectable influenza vaccine protects between 70 and 90 percent of healthy children from developing laboratory-confirmed influenza infection. The nasal spray vaccine protects about 87 percent of children between ages 5 and 7 years.
Immunization against influenza is recommended for all children age 6 months to 18 years.
Timing and dose — There are two types of influenza vaccine; one is injected while the other is given as a nasal spray. The injection is approved for adults and children 6 months and older, while the intranasal spray is approved only for people between 24 months and 49 years.
People who have a weakened immune system or who have chronic heart, lung, kidney, or metabolic disease should not use the intranasal spray since it contains live virus that has been weakened. Household contacts of those who have severely weakened immune systems should also not receive the intranasal spray.
The influenza viruses change every year, which means that a reformulated vaccine must be given every year (in the fall). In the first year that a child (younger than age 10 years) receives the vaccine, two doses are recommended; the second dose is given at least one month after the first. The influenza vaccine does not prevent illnesses such as the common cold or strep throat.
Influenza vaccine precautions — Both forms of the influenza vaccine are prepared with chicken eggs. Thus, children who have had a severe allergic reaction to chicken or egg proteins should not be given the vaccine (show table 4). However, for children with a history of these allergies, the vaccine may be given under supervision of an allergist.
Injectable influenza vaccine precautions — Vaccination may be delayed in children with a fever until their symptoms have resolved. However, immunization does not need to be delayed in children with mild illnesses that do not cause a fever. The most common side effect of the injectable vaccine is redness and soreness at the injection site. A low-grade fever may develop after vaccination, particularly in children younger than 2 years.
Nasal spray influenza vaccine precautions — The nasal spray form of influenza vaccine is not recommended for children who take aspirin daily and those with a weakened immune system, Guillain-Barré syndrome, asthma, and other conditions (eg, chronic lung or heart problems, pregnancy, chronic metabolic disease, kidney dysfunction, and blood disorders). The nasal spray vaccine is not recommended for children younger than 24 months.
Influenza vaccine effectiveness — The injectable influenza vaccine protects between 70 and 90 percent of healthy children from developing laboratory-confirmed influenza infection. The nasal spray vaccine protects about 87 percent of children between ages 5 and 7 years.
