September 2026
Flu Prevention and Vaccines for Children: What Parents Should Know
Flu season can bring missed school days, disrupted routines, and, in some cases, serious illness for children. Fortunately, there are steps families can take to help prevent influenza and reduce the risk of complications.
Understanding how the flu spreads, when children should receive their annual flu vaccine, and what to expect after vaccination can help parents make informed decisions about their child’s health. Here’s what families should know about flu prevention and vaccination for children.
What Is the Flu?
Influenza (the flu) is much more serious than a “bug” or a bad cold. It’s a contagious respiratory virus that kids can catch — and spread — easily. Most people who get the flu are sick at home for about a week, but some end up in the hospital.
Influenza (or the flu) is a viral infection of the nose, throat and lungs. It spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes and another person breathes in the virus, or when someone touches a contaminated surface then puts a finger in their mouth or nose. Keeping your child up to date on flu shots helps their immune system stay ahead of those germs so they can remain healthy and grow strong.
The flu can be serious for kids under 5 or those with conditions like asthma or diabetes. The annual influenza shot helps your child’s immune system recognize and resist the virus so they can stay in school, go on playdates, and do the things kids love doing. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends immunizations based on when your child’s immune system is best ready to learn and respond. For the flu vaccine, the recommended pace is yearly, starting at 6 months.
When Should Your Child Get Their Flu Vaccine?
Flu season starts in the fall, just as kids return to school, where they share crayons, snacks — and yes, germs — with a lot of other kids. Make sure your back-to-school to-do list includes a trip to your pediatrician to bring your child up to date on immunizations, including for influenza. Getting a flu shot before the end of October means your child’s immune system can learn to resist the virus before it hits your community. On-time immunization keeps our kids, their classmates, and our communities healthier.
In child development, timing matters a lot. Babies grow through predictable ages and stages — from learning to smile and roll over, to learning to sit up and crawl. Your child’s immune system has stages too. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommended vaccine schedule is based on when a kid’s system is best ready to learn and respond. For the flu vaccine, the recommended pace is yearly, starting at 6 months. Make sure your baby stays ahead of preventable diseases so they can keep moving ahead toward their developmental milestones.
How Does the Flu Spread?
Influenza viruses can spread rapidly through communities. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, others around them can inhale the virus through the nose or mouth. The virus can also spread when a person touches a contaminated surface, such as a door handle, and then puts their hands or fingers in their nose or mouth or rubs their eyes. In the United States, flu most often spreads from fall through spring.
Flu viruses change over time, and different strains circulate each year. The flu vaccine is updated every year to keep up with these changes. That’s why kids (and adults) need a new flu shot every year.
Common Myths About the Flu Vaccine
If your child does experience side effects after vaccination, symptoms are usually mild and short-lived. The flu vaccine does not cause the flu.
Common side effects of the flu shot may include soreness, redness, and swelling where the shot was given, as well as fever, muscle aches, and headache. There may be a very small increased risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a condition that can cause numbness and muscle weakness.
Common side effects of the nasal spray flu vaccine may include runny nose, nasal congestion, wheezing, or headache. Vomiting, muscle aches, fever, sore throat, and cough are other possible side effects of the nasal spray flu vaccine.
Children can still receive the vaccine if they have a minor illness, like a cold, on the day of vaccination.
Why Flu Prevention Is Important for Children
Don’t let the flu stop you and your family!
Most people who get the flu are sick for at least a week. But some people get much sicker. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent influenza and serious health problems—especially for kids under 5 or those with conditions like asthma or diabetes. For example, flu can lead to pneumonia. Kids with flu also can develop brain swelling as well as febrile and non-febrile seizures.
The flu vaccine keeps people out of the hospital—it stops serious illness and deaths from influenza.
There’s no need to wait, even if your child received the previous year’s flu vaccine in March or April.
We have a vaccine for flu, unlike many other respiratory viruses that make kids sick. Let’s protect our children from flu when we can.
Help Protect Your Child This Flu Season
Annual flu vaccination is an important part of protecting your child’s health throughout flu season. Staying up to date on recommended immunizations can help reduce the risk of influenza, serious illness, and complications while also helping protect the people your child interacts with at home, school, and in the community.
If you have questions about the flu vaccine, your child’s immunization schedule, or whether your child is ready for their annual flu shot, talk with your pediatric healthcare provider. Your child’s care team can help you understand current recommendations and determine the appropriate vaccination plan for your child.