Influenza (flu) vaccination is safe for anyone 6 months of age and older. It protects you and those around you from flu and its complications.

Flu shots are usually given once a year from October to mid-November. The shots provide protection throughout the flu season — October to March.

• Children under the age of 9 years of age who have never had a flu shot will need two doses of the vaccine, given at least 4 weeks apart.
• Children who had one or more doses of the regular seasonal flu shot in the past will need only one dose this year.

Should my child get a flu shot?

All children over 6 months old should get a flu shot each year.

The vaccine is especially important for children who are at high risk of complications from the flu including those who:

• are between 6 months and 23 months old.
• have chronic heart or lung disorders (such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis, asthma) serious enough to need regular medical follow-up.
• have chronic conditions that weaken the immune system, such as:
  • immune deficiencies
  • metabolic diseases
  • cancer
  • HIV infection
• are undergoing treatments or taking drugs that weaken the immune system.
• have kidney disease.
• have anemia or hemoglobinopathy.
• have diabetes or other metabolic diseases.
• have neurological or neuromuscular disorders that affect their breathing or make it hard to handle respiratory secretions.
• have to take acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or Aspirin) on a daily basis.
• live in a chronic care facility.
• live with another child or adult who is at risk of complications from the flu.

If you have children younger than 2 years old or who have health complications, everyone living in the house should get a flu shot. This is especially important if you have children under 6 months old: Babies this age can’t get the shot themselves (it won’t work). They could become infected if a family member gets the flu.

Caregivers who take care of children less than 2 years of age should also be immunized.

Pregnant women should be immunized. For more information visit the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Who should not get the flu shot?

Very few children should NOT get a flu shot:

• Babies under 6 months of age. Although the vaccine is not harmful to babies less than 6 months old, it does not work.
• If your child has an allergy to thimerosal (a preservative in contact lens solutions and the flu vaccine), ask whether thimerosal-free vaccine is available where you live.
• In the past, flu vaccine was not recommended for children with an egg allergy. Research has shown that, in most cases, it is okay for children with egg allergies to get the vaccine. If your child has an egg allergy, talk to your doctor about getting the vaccine.

How safe is the flu vaccine?

The influenza vaccine is very safe. It cannot cause the flu. Side effects are usually mild and could include:

• mild soreness where the needle went into the arm.
• a slight fever or aching for the first day or two after immunization, especially after the first dose of vaccine.

If needed, taking acetaminophen can help ease the pain. In rare cases, a person may have red or itchy eyes, cough and mild swelling of the face within a few hours of vaccination. This usually goes away within 48 hours.

What is the nasal flu vaccine (FluMist)?

A new type of flu vaccine (brand name: FluMist) is given as a nose spray instead of injection. Healthy children over the age of 2 years can get the vaccine. If your child has a chronic condition or illness, you should speak to your doctor to find out if the nasal flu vaccine is appropriate. The vaccine is given in 1 or 2 doses. Each dose is one squirt into each nostril.

• If your child is under 9 years of age and has received the flu vaccine before, she will only need one dose.
• If your child is under 9 years of age and hasn’t received a flu vaccine before, she will need two doses given at least 4 weeks apart.

This type of flu vaccine is not covered by provincial or territorial health plans, which means you will have to pay for it.

More information from the CPS:

• Influenza in children
• Colds in children
• Recommendations for the use of influenza vaccine for children, a statement of the Canadian Paediatric Society
• FluMist: Questions and Answers, a resource for health professionals about the nasal flu vaccine.

Other resources:

• Canadian Coalition for Immunization Awareness and Promotion
• National Advisory Committee on Immunization
• Canadian Public Health Association
• Public Health Agency of Canada: www.fightflu.ca

For complete information on vaccinations in Canada, read Your Child’s Best Shot: A Parent’s Guide to Vaccination.

Reviewed by:
CPS Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee

Last updated: October 2011