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Few experiences are scarier for a child than receiving a vaccination shot. There’s a few different reasons why this happens; some are afraid of the pain, while others fear needles in general. Regardless, making the decision to vaccinate on schedules recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is, in most cases, the right decision. This includes newer yearly flu vaccinations.
The anti-vaccination movement is expanding, and unfortunately, much of it is neither based on hard science or accurate fact. That makes it increasingly difficult to feel like you’re making well-informed, medically sound decision for your child. Rest assured that getting vaccinated protects both you and everyone else around you, and is almost always wise. To help you better understand the flu shot and the vaccination process, we put together this short and easy to digest primer.
Vaccination Process Basics
This section contains basic information about the flu shot and flu shot vaccination process. If you have questions about more complex concerns, like allergies and other health complications, hold these questions momentarily — we’ll address them in later sections.
For now, here are the essentials.
Flu vaccinations are almost always safe for otherwise healthy children who are six months of age or older. As with any other medication, there are always exceptions to this rule, so you should clear vaccination with your pediatrician before moving forward.
Doses
Flu shots for young children differ in strength and dosing format than flu shot for adults. The number of doses your child should receive depends on both their age and their vaccination history. If your child is younger than nine years of age, or if her she has only had one vaccination dose before July 1, 2017, you can expect they will require an initial shot and a booster shot. If they need two doses, most physicians recommend that you initiate the process as early as possible.
Children should not receive both shots in the same appointment because it takes time for the immune system to build immunity. This double-dosing protocol works best when they receive the shots approximately four weeks apart. Try to schedule the second booster for as close to exactly four weeks from the first as possible. If you can’t make the appointment on that day, schedule it in as soon as possible afterward (e.g., within a few days).
Strains of the Vaccination
Don’t wait for a specific strain of vaccination to become available in your area. Even though the 2017 to 2017 influenza inoculation covers only four influenza strains, it’s still better to get any available vaccination rather than waiting. Influenzas are much more serious than a common cold and can even be fatal to young children with immature immune systems, so waiting for an injection that covers more strains just isn’t wise.
Simply put: some protection is better than none. It’s also easier to supplement flu vaccines with boosters to address new strains rather than to treat influenzas reactively.
Side Effects
The human body requires around two weeks after inoculation to launch an effective response to the flu vaccine. Mild, flu-like symptoms during this time period are common, and aren’t a sign that the vaccine “gave you the flu.” Instead, what your child experiences is an effective immune system response. It’s a sign the vaccine is working!
Mild side effects from the flu vaccination include:
- swelling
- muscle aches
- sensitivity
- soreness
Your child may also experience a low-grade fever (under 101 degrees Fahrenheit). This is normal and to be expected. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can eliminate these minor fevers and may reduce localized soreness, too.
A quick note on nasal vaccinations: though these are effective for many communicable diseases, they may not address the flu as accurately or efficiently as injections. Research from the last two years still shows injections to be the better choice.
When To Talk To Your Child’s Doctor
Most children don’t experience any severe side effects from receiving vaccinations. Any side effects experienced are mild and transient in nature. However, every child has their own chemical makeup, and there is always a small risk for allergies and other advanced concerns.
Most parents don’t realize that it isn’t the vaccine that causes many negative reactions; instead, it’s an allergy or sensitivity instead. Address these adverse side effects with your doctor for reassurance that all is well.
A tiny risk (around one in 1 million children) of post-vaccination anaphylaxis does exist. This risk is much higher if your child experiences anaphylaxis to other substances, like nuts or strawberries, already.
Allergies aren’t necessarily a reason to avoid vaccinations altogether; instead, doctors often track down the true allergen (usually eggs) and give a compounded or modified formula without that ingredient instead.
If your child is allergic to eggs, you should tell your physician before your child receives the flu shot. This inoculation is incubated in chicken eggs; trace amounts of egg materials remain in the vaccine after formulation. Although these amounts are tiny, it’s still an increased risk for allergies.
The Flu Shot Won’t Give Your Child the Flu
One of the common misconceptions about the flu shot is that it will give your child the flu. Because the flu vaccine is formulated from dead viruses, this is effectively impossible. Much of the hype surrounding this claim comes from anti-vaccination campaigns and not hard science.
As mentioned previously, a child who is inoculated may experience mild symptoms that resemble a flu or cold. These symptoms often include:
- fatigue
- headaches
- muscle aches
- nausea
- soreness where the injection was given
Some little ones may also experience chills or low-grade fevers around 24 hours after the dose. Immune reaction is the most common reason for these symptoms.
Because full immunity doesn’t occur for around two weeks, it is possible for your child to catch a cold or even a flu during this time frame. Children who catch a flu just before vaccination are still likely to experience symptoms, too, though symptoms may be less severe.
Flu vaccinations aren’t 100 percent effective. They prevent most children from getting the flu, but sometimes they don’t entirely work. Your child’s flu won’t be as severe as it would have been without the vaccination. They won’t be bedridden or develop serious side effects.
Multiple Vaccinations at the Same Time
The flu vaccine won’t interfere with or cancel out any other vaccinations your child may require, so you shouldn’t worry about stacking multiple deliveries on the same day. The only modification needed is to spread the vaccination sites across different areas of the body (e.g., the leg and arm). The only exception to this rule is for very young infants — your doctor may recommend coming back in a few days if the fluid volume of all shots is high enough to require more than one or two injection sites. The concern here isn’t the multiple vaccinations, but injury to the tissue from fluid volumes and/or broken capillaries from the injection instead.
High-Risk Scenarios
Most allergic reactions and side effects your child may experience aren’t a huge deal and will sort themselves out over time. There are some conditions, however, that aren’t nearly as forgiving. Children between six months and five years old are at more risk of requiring medical assistance due to their age. Your pediatrician may recommend that infants and young children receive shots in the office or even at the local emergency department as a safety measure against potential issues, even if they’re perfectly healthy otherwise.
Children with certain health conditions shouldn’t receive vaccinations. These conditions include:
- certain cancers
- Asthma
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Diabetes
- Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
- immune disorders
- blood clotting disorders
Children who rely on aspirin therapy are also not ideal candidates for vaccinations because they have an increased risk for bleeding under the skin. If your child suffers from these or any other chronic health conditions, it’s important that every member of your child’s care team know about these disorders before vaccinations are given.
In Conclusion
Although the flu shot isn’t 100 percent effective, it’s still highly recommended for most children (and adults, too). As a parent, it’s your job to inform yourself on the facts and make the best decision possible for your child, whether that’s to vaccinate or abstain. If you have questions about vaccinations, or need to know whether this year’s flu vaccine is right for you, speak with your pharmacist.