Flu Vaccines

Having the flu is never any fun, and for some kids, a bout of the flu can be a serious problem. Flu vaccines reduce the risk of contracting the flu and are among the services available from the pediatric specialists at Chesterfield Pediatrics in Midlothian, Virginia. Whether you schedule online or over the phone, booking a flu vaccine is fast and easy.

What are flu vaccines?

A flu vaccine is an injection of a substance formulated to trigger your body’s natural immune response. It’s an essential tool for reducing the risk of widespread flu outbreaks.

The vaccine works by introducing a carefully controlled volume of an antigen into your system. The shot contains some portion of the flu virus or another substance that “tricks” your body into launching a powerful immune response.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone over six months old have a flu shot every year. These guidelines have been in place since the 2010-11 flu season.

You might not know it, but there are actually many versions of the flu shot each year. Your child’s pediatrician advises you on the best one to meet the child’s needs.

Why should my child receive flu vaccines?

Many parents wonder if flu vaccines are necessary. After all, if a child’s immune system can fight off infections and build natural immunity, why bother to get an annual flu shot?

Getting the flu vaccine helps protect your child against infection. Because kids spend so much time in the company of other kids and don’t always wash their hands or cover their noses when they sneeze, their risk of contracting the flu is higher.

The flu vaccine gives your child the immune head-start needed to feel better quickly. That means a lot for kids studying at school or playing sports who don’t want to lose time to fight off the flu.

Flu vaccines also protect others with whom you have close contact. Spending holidays or special events with older relatives or those with compromised immune systems is more comfortable when your kids have all had flu vaccines.

How often do children need flu vaccines?

The flu vaccine is very different from one year to the next. Researchers work hard to determine which flu strains are most likely to appear in the United States during the upcoming flu season.

They formulate a vaccine designed to fight off that specific infection. This means your child (and the rest of your family) should have a flu vaccine every year.

Getting your child vaccinated also provides the general public with greater protection. When most population members are vaccinated and can fight off infection, the virus has nowhere to thrive.

If you have questions about the flu vaccine’s role in overall health and wellness, book a visit at Chesterfield Pediatrics by phone or request one online today.