Every fall is the time of year for you and your little one to get your flu shot! As a mom, watching Madi be uncomfortable or cry while she gets her shot can be extremely stressful, but I take her every year because as a physician – I know that the benefits of getting the flu shot often out-weigh the costs. Because the flu virus changes yearly, everyone needs a yearly flu shot to build up their immunity.
The most common questions I get asked from parents is:
1. When is my child old enough to get the flu shot
2. Is it safe?
The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends:
- All children over 6 months of age get the flu shot yearly.
- The flu shot is very safe. The most common side effects are soreness in the area of injection, or a mild fever for 1-2 days afterwards. All children over 6 months of age should get the flu vaccine unless they have had a serious life threatening reaction to the flu vaccine previously. Vaccinations have no link to autism, and therefore are safe for children, including those with autism, to receive.
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