Leave the Flu Out in the Cold
Flu season typically peaks around January, but it’s not too late to get a flu vaccination.
“I strongly recommend getting the flu vaccination,” says Alexis Elward, MD, MPH, pediatric infectious disease specialist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “In most cases, the vaccine is 90 percent effective in preventing the flu. It doesn’t prevent every cold or respiratory infection, but it does give your child a strong first line of defense against the virus.”
Because it takes about two weeks for antibodies against infection to develop, ideally children should get a flu vaccine as soon as the vaccines are available.
Beginning in 2008, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends children aged 6 months through 18 should get vaccinated each year. In addition to traditional flu shots, a flu vaccine is now available as a nasal spray option for healthy children over age 2. The nasal spray vaccine, which contains a live, weakened form of the virus, offers equally effective protection as the flu shot, which contains an inactive form of the influenza virus.
10 Tips for Flu Prevention
In addition to flu vaccinations, there are other simple steps you can take to protect your family from the flu:
- Stay away from shopping malls, movie theaters or other public places during flu season to limit exposure to germs. “Because flu germs can spread through the air, being in close proximity to large crowds is one way many children are exposed to the flu virus,” Dr. Elward says.
- Wash hands often or use alcohol-based hand cleaners.
- Don’t share food or cups at school.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, which are prime germ pathways.
- Remove shoes at the door at home to prevent leaving a trail of germs on the floor, where kids often crawl or play.
- Regularly clean surfaces in your home, including light switches, door handles, the remote control, telephone and computer.
- Make sure every family member uses his or her own towel and wash cloth.
- Keep toothbrushes from touching each other in the bathroom.
- Use drinking straws to prevent the spread of germs through shared glasses.
- If someone in the family does get the flu, set up a “sick room,” a specific area that’s clean, quiet and full of natural light. This may help prevent the flu from spreading to others.
For information about flu vaccines, call the Answer Line at 314.454.KIDS (5437) or toll-free 800.678.KIDS.
