What are the flu vaccine recommendations for children?
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends that children between the ages of 6 months and 9 years of age, who have never received flu vaccine, obtain two doses of influenza vaccine given at least 4 weeks apart. Two doses are required because children may have limited exposure to the flu and therefore need two doses to develop protection. Children who have received flu vaccine in previous years need only one dose for protection. It has been estimated that 10-40% of healthy children get the flu per year. As well, children are at higher risk for developing otitis media (middle ear infections) as a result of influenza illness. Children are a major contributor to the spread of the virus in both school and household settings. Even healthy young people can become quite ill. Healthy children aged 6 to 23 months are at an increased risk of hospitalization related to influenza compared with healthy older children and young adults. Therefore, NACI recommends that this group
