When flu season hits, it’s good to have a plan to help prevent sick days and long nights. One way to better protect your child, and your family is by getting the flu vaccine every year. Clinicians at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) support the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations that all individuals age 6 months or older should receive the flu vaccine each year, with rare exemptions.
The flu season typically begins in October and peaks between December and February. It can take up to 2 weeks after the shot to develop immunity, so the sooner you and your child are vaccinated, the better.
This article is sponsored by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Check out these resources from CHOP to learn more:
- Get the 4-1-1 on flu: Symptoms, treatment, and testing
- Why you should get your flu shot early: Common myths about the vaccine
- Who should get the flu vaccine: how it’s made, side effect,s and other concerns
What to do if your child starts having flu symptoms?
If your child is experiencing symptoms that could indicate the flu, call your child’s Primary Care physician’s office. In most cases, you’ll be able to treat the symptoms at home. Most people with the flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. If it’s after office hours and you are worried their symptoms require immediate attention, take your child to a nearby urgent care or an emergency room.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s King of Prussia Campus offers your family top-ranked, pediatric inpatient, emergency, specialty and urgent care -conveniently located close to home. The 108-bed Middleman Family Pavilion, including the 24/7 Madlyn K. Abramson Emergency Department and 18-bed Level III N/IICU, gives even more families greater access to CHOP’s world-class care.
