This bad flu season is not over.
Through the end of December 2022, preliminary data from CDC estimates that 20 million Americans sought medical care for flu, nearly half a million (450,000) were hospitalized, up to 39,000 died including 61 children. Flu can continue to circulate through the Spring, with different strains circulating during the season. Get your child vaccinated now, if you haven’t done so this season, to protect against severe illness from four different strains.
This flu season is different than the past couple of years.
As measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, like masking, have decreased, flu and other viruses can spread more easily in schools and other settings with friends, family gatherings, shopping, etc. A flu vaccination really is the very best way to give your child protection—and flu can circulate through the Spring. It’s not too late to get your child vaccinated against flu!
Even if your child already had the flu, it’s still important to get vaccinated.
Even if your child had laboratory-confirmed flu, your child may still be vulnerable to other strains that will circulate this Winter and Spring. It’s possible to get sick twice. Fortunately, the flu vaccine protects against four circulating flu virus strains. Give your child the best protection from flu by getting your family vaccinated today.
COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe outcomes caused by COVID-19 but not the flu.
Protecting your child against COVID is absolutely the right decision. Remember that your child also needs a flu shot. COVID vaccines (and boosters) only protect them from severe COVID-19 outcomes, not the flu. We’ve all been really preoccupied with COVID-19, it’s my job to remind you that flu is also an unpredictable and possibly serious disease. Even a healthy child can get a severe flu, and that’s why I make sure my (kids, nieces/nephews/grandkids/patients) are vaccinated, and I want your kid(s) to be protected too. If [child’s name] is due for the updated (bivalent) booster shot, we could take care of both their flu and updated COVID booster today. It’s safe to get them during the same visit, and it will save you both another trip.
For more tips and talking points, download Speaking to Parents About Flu (IMM-1275) and promote flu and COVID-19 vaccines to parents in your clinics.
