Originally published on One Medical by Margaret Chapman, MD MS, FA.

It’s that time of year again: flu season is back. As the fall and winter months roll in each year, millions of people come down with the uncomfortable respiratory illness. In fact, according to the CDC, about 8% of the U.S. population gets sick from the flu each season. While it may seem like getting sick is inevitable this time of year, the flu is preventable and there are several steps you can take to protect both you and your family from the virus. Here are the answers to your flu FAQs: 

How do you get the flu?

The flu is spread person-to-person primarily from droplets that can travel through the air from coughing and sneezing, as well as by physical contact with contaminated surfaces like door handles, countertops or anything else an infected person touched recently. So teach your children cough and sneeze technique and good hand hygiene to keep your family and those around you healthy during flu season. Widespread mask use and practicing good social distancing will also dramatically reduce the spread of the flu.

Should my child get a flu shot?

Yes! At One Medical, we encourage all our patients who are eligible, including infants age 6 months and older and children and teens, to get vaccinated against the flu. It’s the single best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting the flu. In fact, the flu shot not only reduces your child’s risk of getting the flu and lessens symptoms if they do get sick, it also helps prevent the flu from spreading. Moreover, the flu shot is especially important for infants and children, anyone pregnant (or planning to become pregnant), those over the age of 50, those with a chronic medical condition, and those caring for someone who is at risk for complications of the flu. These special groups are at high risk of serious complications of flu, like hospitalization, pneumonia and even death.The best way to protect your child is for the entire family to get vaccinated against the flu.

Does my child need a flu shot every year?

Yes, it’s recommended. Each year, the flu vaccine is updated to better match the strain(s) of flu expected to cause the majority of flu cases during the upcoming flu season. Because flu viruses can mutate from season to season, it’s important to get a flu shot every year to ensure you and your loved ones are protected. While it’s possible immunity from a prior year’s shot can be protective, One Medical stands with other bodies such as the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization in recommending annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older.

Are there special recommendations based on my child’s age ?

Yes, some infants are too young to be vaccinated for the flu, while older infants and young children may need 2 flu shots to be completely vaccinated. Here’s the breakdown by age:

• Babies under 6 months are too young to receive the flu vaccine. The best way to protect newborns and young infants is to make sure the people who care for them and spend time with them are vaccinated.
• Between 6 months and 8 years, some children will need 2 doses of the flu vaccine to be protected. If it is the first time your child is receiving the flu vaccine, or if your child has only received one flu vaccine in the past, they will need 2 doses of the vaccine this season. It is best to begin with the first dose as early as possible. The second dose should be given at least 28 days after the first dose. Children who need 2 doses, but only receive 1 dose of the vaccine may have reduced or no protection from the flu.
• Children between 6 months to 8 years who have received 2 doses of the flu vaccine in the past, will only need one flu shot this season.
• Children over 8 years old will need one flu shot this season.

When is the best time for my child to get a flu shot?

For children 6 months and up, it’s best to get the flu shot before flu season starts, so we recommend getting vaccinated in September or October when the current season’s vaccine becomes available. It is especially important for children who need 2 doses of the vaccine to start the process early, as the second dose is given at least 28 days after the first. Because flu season in the U.S. can last as late as May, it’s still worth getting vaccinated even after October. Babies who turn 6 months in the midst of flu season should start the 2 dose vaccine series as close to 6 months as possible. Also, it can take up to two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop and protect your child against the flu, so keep that in mind when planning to get vaccinated.

Are flu vaccines safe?

Yes, very! Flu vaccines have been studied carefully and are very safe. Even though some people get sick despite getting a flu shot, the flu shot itself can’t give you the flu. Some people report symptoms such as body aches and low-grade fevers after getting a flu shot. This is due to your body’s developing a healthy immune response to the vaccine. These symptoms usually resolve within 24-48 hours. There has been an association between the flu shot and a serious complication called Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), but this is extremely rare – fewer than 1 or 2 people per million who receive the vaccine will develop this syndrome, and the vaccine has been shown over and over to be safe and effective. If you have concerns about the vaccine’s safety, you can read more from the CDC here. Talk to your provider if your child has had a bad reaction to a vaccine in the past before they get their next flu shot.

How is the flu different from COVID-19?

Both the flu and COVID-19 are contagious respiratory illnesses, but are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, while the flu is caused by various strains of influenza viruses. As both viruses cause many of the same symptoms and are transmitted via close personal contact and through respiratory particles, it can be difficult to distinguish one from the other. There are a few differences though. First, the currently circulating omicron COVID-19 variant is more contagious than the flu and involved in more “super-spreading events” where one person infects many others. Likewise, people with COVID-19 may be contagious for longer than those with the flu. The symptoms of COVID and flu largely overlap except you may experience loss of taste or smell with COVID, but the rest of the symptoms are often indistinguishable without a test. Read more about the similarities and differences between the flu and COVID-19 here.

Can my child get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time?

As the flu and COVID-19 are caused by different viruses, it’s possible to have both respiratory illnesses at the same time. Given the possibility of coinfection, it’s especially important for your child to get a flu shot this year to better protect them and your loved ones.

Should my child take an antiviral medication like Tamiflu?

Antiviral medications, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or the inhaled drug zanamivir (Relenza), offer little benefit for most healthy adults and children so we don’t routinely recommend antiviral medication except under certain circumstances. Kids who are very sick with the flu (like children whose illness is so severe they need to be hospitalized) and those who are at risk of developing serious flu complications (children under 5 years or because of a chronic health condition) and children living with infants under 6 months of age are recommended to take antiviral medication. Antiviral medications can lessen the severity and shorten the duration of symptoms if given within 48 hours of the illness. However, if taken longer than 48 hours after the onset of symptoms, they have little effect.

Sometimes these medicines are also used as prophylaxis to lower the risk of infection if an infant or child has been in close contact with an infected person. Oseltamivir can be used to treat cases of the flu in all ages, and may be used as prophylaxis in kids who are 3 months and up. Zanamivir can be used to treat the flu for kids aged 7 years and up, and as prophylaxis in age 5 years and older. Some side effects of these medications include nausea, diarrhea, and headache. If you’re unsure if it is recommended for your child to take antiviral medication, or you have additional questions, please contact a member of your care team.

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