Things to know about the 2017-2018 Flu Vaccine

1. The flu vaccine is essential for children.

The flu virus is common and unpredictable, and it can cause serious complications and death, even in healthy children. Immunization each year is the best way to protect children.

2. Now is the time to get vaccinated.

Influenza vaccine shipments have already begun, and will continue through the fall and winter. Call your pediatrician to ask when the vaccine will be available.

3. This year's flu vaccine is only available as a shot.

The inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) is given by intramuscular injection and is approved for children 6 months of age and older. Depending on the number of flu strains it contains, it is available in both trivalent (IIV3 – two A and one B virus) and quadrivalent (IIV4 – two A and two B viruses) forms. The intranasal influenza vaccine is not recommended in any setting in the US.

4. It doesn't matter which form of the vaccine you get.

The quadrivalent influenza vaccines for the 2017-2018 season contain the same three strains as the trivalent vaccine, plus an additional B strain. Although this may offer improved protection, the AAP does not give preference for one type of flu vaccine over another.

5. You can't get the flu from the flu vaccine.

Flu vaccines are made from killed viruses. Mild symptoms, such as nausea, sleepiness, headache, muscle aches, and chills, can occur.

6. If you catch the flu and are vaccinated, you will get a milder form of the disease.

We know that flu vaccines are about 60% effective, and we all wish that number were higher. The good news is that vaccinated people who get the flu usually get a mild form of the disease, just the sniffles, according to a study. People who are not vaccinated will likely be in bed with fever and miserable and even develop a complication.

7. There should be plenty of vaccine for everyone this year.

For the 2017-2018 season, manufacturers have projected that they will produce between up to 166 million doses of flu vaccine.

8. The influenza vaccine doesn't cause autism.

A robust body of research continues to show that the influenza vaccine is safe and is not associated with autism.

9. The flu vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines.

The flu vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines, but at a different place on the body. It is also important to note that children 6 months through 8 years of age may need two doses spaced one month apart to be fully protected. These children should receive their first dose as soon as the vaccine is available in their community. Live vaccines (like the MMR and chickenpox vaccines) may be given together or at least 4 weeks apart.

10. Children with egg allergy can get the flu vaccine.

Children with an egg allergy can safely get the flu shot from their pediatrician without going to an allergy specialist. Even those with a history of severe egg allergy don't have to treat getting the flu vaccine differently than getting any other vaccine.