Flu Vaccines for Children | Kids and the Flu Shot

Children are among one of the most vulnerable populations for influenza and are often among the least vaccinated age groups. Particular vaccines and protocols have been established for children ages 3-18.

MyFluVaccine is here to help you better understand flu information and which flu vaccines are approved for this age group.

Why should my child get a vaccine for the flu?

The flu is serious, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states: "Millions of children get sick with flu each year and thousands are hospitalized." They estimate that "between 7,000 and 28,000 children younger than 5 years old have been hospitalized for flu each year in the United States" since 2010. "Children with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, and disorders of the brain or nervous system, and children younger than 5 years old (and especially children younger than 2 years old) are more likely to end up in the hospital from flu […] Since 2010, CDC estimates that between 130 and 1,200 children (younger than 18 years) have died from flu each year."

The flu vaccine helps to protect babies and children from flu symptoms, as well as from spreading flu to others. Vaccinating babies is something to especially consider for children who are around others (particularly other babies or individuals with chronic health conditions) in childcare centers or school settings, and because children tend to touch many surfaces, their faces, and other people — and young kids aren't always the best at washing hands — they are often more susceptible to contracting and spreading influenza. Even if a baby or child gets sick with flu, the vaccine can make the illness less severe and/or prevent complications and hospitalization, especially among children younger than 5 years. Preventing illness is usually easier than treating it.

To see if influenza is spreading in your region, please see the National Flu Activity Map.

When should my child receive a vaccine for the flu?

An influenza vaccine is part of the recommended vaccine schedule for babies 6 months and older (and an influenza vaccine is recommended yearly/every flu season). The CDC's complete recommended vaccine schedule for children — categorized by age — can be found here: Vaccines for Your Children By Age | CDC.

Babies and/or first-time flu vaccine recipients under the age of 8 should receive two doses; the second dose should be administered four weeks after the first dose.² It is also important to understand that the vaccine takes about two weeks for children to be protected against influenza. Depending on the circulating influenza strains and the strains chosen for flu vaccines, flu shots don't always prevent flu. However, a flu vaccine should help ease flu symptoms and prevent hospitalization or serious flu-related illness(es), especially for babies and children 2 years and under.

Just like adults, children should receive their vaccine before the height of flu season — in the US, October is suggested as the time to get vaccinated against influenza, especially if your baby or toddler needs two doses. Flu season in the US typically runs from November to May, often peaking in February. Since flu strains evolve, experts select and update flu vaccine strains annually, so it is recommended babies and children receive a flu vaccine every year.³

Which flu vaccines are approved for children?

Many of the flu vaccines in the US are approved for use in babies 6 months and older. The influenza vaccines for infants and toddlers include the following:

Cell-based flu shot (virus is not grown in eggs): A completely egg-free vaccine (safe for individuals with egg allergies), this type is grown via cell culture and is approved for those 6 months and older. The virus strains have been inactivated or purified.

Flucelvax^® Quadrivalent

Standard flu shot (virus is grown in eggs): Approved for use in children 6 months+ and anyone 18+. These types of flu shots are administered in the arm muscle by a needle.

*The dose volume for Afluria^® Quadrivalent is 0.25 mL for babies and toddlers aged 6 through 35 months and 0.5 mL for those ≥3 years.

**Fluzone^® Quadrivalent is currently approved for those aged 6 to 35 months at either 0.25 mL or 0.5 mL per dose.

Intranasal (nasal spray) flu vaccine: FluMist^® Quadrivalent Intranasal is not approved for use in babies or pregnant individuals, but is approved for toddlers 2+ (and anyone aged 2-49 years who does not have a chronic health condition). The intranasal vaccine (also known as the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine or LAIV) is administered via nasal spray, so it is often considered more approachable, especially for those who fear needles/shots.

FluMist^® Quadrivalent Intranasal

Are there side effects of the flu vaccine for children?

The flu vaccine does not cause flu, but it can cause mild, temporary side effects, which may include:

Redness or soreness at the injection site
Body aches
Fever

These side effects are common for all flu vaccine recipients and are not specific to babies and children. As with any medication or vaccine, consult your healthcare professional first.

Severe side effects and allergic reactions to flu vaccines are rare, but emergency signs of flu vaccine side effects may include:

Breathing difficulties
Dizziness
Hives
Paleness
Quick heartbeat
Weakness
Vomiting

Seek immediate medical attention if you notice severe reactions.

Where can I get a flu vaccine for my child?

Your child's pediatrician or healthcare provider will often provide flu vaccination information and have flu shots available, especially at the start and height of influenza season. For convenience — at a child's yearly or routine doctor's visit — many healthcare professionals will ask parents if they would like to vaccinate their child against flu while in-office. Most flu vaccines are covered by insurance.

If access is an issue, reach out to your healthcare provider, public health department, or closest pharmacy to see what your options are; communities often offer free flu vaccine clinics in the autumn and winter.

You can also enter your zip code here to find a flu vaccine site, as well as sort by flu vaccine type.

What if I'm pregnant and my baby is due soon… Can I get an influenza vaccine?

If you are due to deliver in or around flu season, it is highly recommended that you receive a flu shot before delivery to protect yourself and your infant. Babies under six months cannot receive a flu vaccine, but babies still in utero benefit from the antibodies the carrier receives with flu vaccination. Pregnant individuals can be vaccinated during any trimester of their pregnancy; however, pregnant people should not receive the live-attenuated vaccine (LAIV) or nasal flu vaccine.

Additionally, changes in immune, heart, and lung functions during pregnancy can make flu and flu-related illnesses more likely and more serious. According to the CDC, flu vaccination "has been shown to reduce the risk of flu-associated acute respiratory infection in pregnant women by about one-half" and pregnant individuals who get a flu shot can reduce their "risk of being hospitalized with flu by an average of 40 percent."

Consult your physician to identify which flu vaccine is best for you and your fetus, and to plan the best time to get your flu shot while pregnant. Once your baby reaches 6 months of age (outside the womb), it is recommended they receive a yearly flu vaccine. See the CDC's list of other suggested vaccines for children here.

Can my child receive a flu vaccine with a COVID-19 vaccine?

Both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines are approved for use in babies 6 months and older, and coadministration — receiving more than one vaccine (or booster) in one visit — is safe and recommended.

Co-infection of flu and COVID-19 (often referred to as "Flurona") is not uncommon, and babies and young children are often at high risk for Flurona and other co-infections (like flu + RSV) because prevention methods can be more difficult to control amongst young children. Vaccine coadministration can curb co-infection of flu and COVID-19 and helps to reduce symptoms or further complications of both viruses.

A significant factor to mitigating sickness and spread is getting a flu and COVID-19 vaccine, which can be coadministered. Yet while it is completely safe for babies 6 months+ to receive both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines together, they do not have to be administered at the same time. There is no recommended waiting time between doses.

How a Flu Shot Benefits Kids

Overall, flu vaccines are beneficial for babies and children and provide the following protections:

Have been shown to save the lives of babies and children
Reduce the risk of flu illness and hospitalization
Can make symptoms and illness less severe among those who are vaccinated but still get sick with flu
Lessens the risk of illness, which can keep children from missing school/childcare and parents or caretakers from having to miss work
Reduce the high risk of developing serious flu complication(s), especially for children younger than 5 years, or of any age with certain chronic health conditions
Helps prevent the spread of flu to family and friends, including babies under 6 months

Babies and toddlers are often particularly susceptible to influenza based on their immune response, as well as contact with other children and high-exposure areas. Vaccinating pregnant individuals, babies (6 months+), and young children helps to protect those who get the vaccine — as well as their surrounding communities — from developing serious flu-related illness(es) and spread. There are many flu vaccines approved for use in babies over 6 months, young children, and pregnant persons. Check with your physician or healthcare professional to see which option might be best for you or your baby.

Flu Vaccines for Children: Recommendations for Kids and the Flu Shot / Flu Vaccine