Timely vaccinations play a huge role in keeping you and your loved ones safe. Doctors recommend getting a flu shot to prevent us from getting any kind of infection, especially in the current situation. If you follow your kids’ vaccination chart properly and also make sure that your kids get all the timely vaccinations, you must ask your doctor about the flu vaccine too. I discussed with my doctor the details about the flu shots. According to her, it’s important to know who should get to get the flu shot in India and when.

Do you have children between 6 months to 8 years?

If your kids are below 8 years, you must speak to your doctor about the flu vaccine. Our pediatrician helped us to understand why the flu shot is the best protection from flu for kids. Do you know every year, 8.7 lakh kids under the age of 5 get hospitalised because of flu? (1)

My daughter’s pediatrician says that kids should get a flu vaccine every year as soon as it’s available. It is because the flu virus changes every year, and there are updated vaccines for it.

The best time to get the flu shot is now

The doctor told me that flu shots in India should be taken during the monsoon because India falls in the SH region.

The WHO has recommended that the Southern Hemisphere (SH) vaccine is the ideal vaccine for India. Influenza vaccination is most effective when local circulating viruses are well-matched with vaccine antigens for SH. Since the peak season of flu in the larger part of the country starts between mid-summer to monsoons, now is the right time to vaccinate against flu for effective protection.

Flu vaccine should be taken annually. However, getting vaccinated early for subsequent seasons is likely to be associated with reduced protection against flu infection later in the flu season, particularly among older adults says CDC. Protection fades over time, so not getting vaccinated with the vaccine containing the right seasonal strains may leave one more vulnerable. Vaccination should be done throughout the SH flu season, even into September or later.

Who needs the flu shot?

Kids in the age group 6 months to 8 years should be vaccinated and other than that there are some high-risk groups. People with some chronic conditions like asthma or co-morbidities like diabetes etc. should consult their doctor regarding the vaccine.

Along with the kids, parents or caregivers should get vaccinated too.

Flu vaccine for adults

My husband and I both took our flu vaccines last year. It’s important for people to understand that flu shot is not only for kids but adults too. Many of my family and friends take the flu shot regularly as advised by their doctor. There can be 14 days of gap between COVID and flu vaccine.

Due to the current situation, good health is a priority for everyone. The flu vaccine is the best way to prevent flu. That’s why you must check with your doctor to know more.

Did you know there is 30 lakh to 60 lakh severe cases of Influenza with 2.9 lakh to 6.5 lakh respiratory deaths annually? (1)

If your child has any chronic health conditions, then it becomes all the more important to discuss the vaccine with your doctor. Talk to your doctor about when and where to get the flu shot in India to protect your kids from viruses that can cause serious illnesses.

We must #PreventWhatCanBePrevented because flu is preventable with vaccination.

  • Lafond KE et al., Plos Med 13(3): e1001977. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001977 Published in 2016
  • https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/how-can-i-avoid-getting-the-flu

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