Things parents need to know about giving the flu vaccine to their children

Doha: Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. Some people, such as young children are at higher risk of serious flu complications.  

“All children are vulnerable to flu infection,” said Dr Khalid Hamid Elawad, Manager, Health Protection, Preventive Health Directorate at PHCC, “but some much more so than others.” Dr Elawad recommends vaccines as the best way to build up a child’s immunity by stimulating the immune system to help the child fight against infections. “Flu is a serious disease. “To avoid the possibility of developing serious complications that can lead to hospitalization, all children over six months old should receive a dose of the flu vaccine’’ he said, adding that “children under five, and especially those under two, are most at risk as their immune systems are still developing.” 

“Many parents have asked why their children need to be vaccinated every year. The answer,” said Dr Elawad, “is that because the flu virus normally changes, or mutates, every season, a new vaccine is designed annually to help the body fight infection from the latest variant.”