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How to Protect Kids from the Flu

April 26, 2024
It’s a fact of life if you’re the parent to young kids -- kids mean germs, and eventually, your children are going to get sick. But whether they come down with a common cold or a nasty influenza depends a lot on the preventive care you’ve been practicing all along. Here are the top tips to keep your kids -- and yourself -- healthy during flu season and all year long.

Get Your Child Vaccinated

Every year, an astounding 20,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized for flu complications. During the 2013-2014 flu season, more than 105 children in 30 states succumbed to flu complications. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the best way to protect your kids from the three most common influenza strains is to have them (and yourself!) vaccinated at the start of flu season. Even kids as young as 6 months qualify for the vaccine.

If your kids kick and scream at the sight of a needle, there’s good news. Starting in the 2014-2015 flu season, the CDC recommends the nasal vaccine for all kids 2 through 8 years of age. Some kids will require two doses, so have your children vaccinated as soon as the mist becomes available.

Practice Good Hand Hygiene

While there’s no need to be a “germaphobe,” it’s important to have youngsters wash their hands often during flu season, especially when they’re around other kids. A general rule of thumb that will go a long way with children: Teach them to wash up with soap for as long as it takes them to sing the "Happy Birthday" song two times, then rinse thoroughly. Remind older kids to wash up after coughing, sneezing or blowing their noses, and help your little ones do so.

If you’re in a situation where germs congregate and washing up isn’t possible, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is the next best thing. (When using hand sanitizer with really little ones, make sure to rub it in until it’s dry to avoid having them ingest any alcohol the next time they put their hands in their mouths.)