When children are sick with the flu, they miss school and are at risk for complications, parents may miss work, and others with whom they have contact may get the flu. But you can join the fight against flu with the flu vaccine!
While flu activity currently is low, health officials warn that the number of flu cases is on the rise. Now is the time to get a flu shot for yourself and your family members, especially those with asthma and other chronic illnesses. It’s not too late to get a flu shot. Flu typically peaks between December and February. But, remember, it takes at least two weeks for vaccine immunity to develop after vaccination.
Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone six months of age and older get a seasonal flu vaccine as the first and best way to protect against influenza. Keep in mind that vaccination is especially important for certain people who are high-risk or who are in close contact with those at high risk. This includes children at high risk of developing complications from flu illness, and adults who are close contacts of those children.
While the flu vaccine can’t prevent every case of flu, it can protect you from more severe illness. (And, getting yourself and your child vaccinated also can protect others who may be more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like babies and young children, older people, and people with certain long-term health problems.)
Health officials encourage families to take precautions to limit the spread of illness, including washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home and keeping ill children home when flu-like and other cold symptoms appear.
The flu is different than a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms: Fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue (tiredness). Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children. (It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.)
If your child has flu-like symptoms, please contact your physician or health clinic for recommendations. The flu may last 7 to 10 days. If your child has a fever, they must be kept home. They must be fever-free for 24 hours without medication prior to returning to school. Please check out health and wellness resources from GCPS, including our “Healthy Habits” flyerfor tips on flu prevention. If you have questions about the flu or flu prevention, you also may contact the Gwinnett County Health Department at 770-339-4260.
Did you know?
Did you know that if your children are between the ages of 6 months and 8 years old, they might need two doses of flu vaccine?
The CDC recommends that children in that age range— whether getting a flu vaccine for the first time or who having gotten only one dose of flu vaccine previously— get two doses of the flu vaccine, spaced at least four weeks apart. If your child needs two doses, be sure to begin this process as soon as possible to ensure your child is protected before flu activity begins in your community. Talk to your child’s health care professional about this season’s flu vaccine and whether or not your child needs two doses.