What You Need To Know About The Flu

Moms.com

What You Need To Know About This Year’s Flu Season

By Kelli Catana

Published Oct 25, 2019

It's the beginning of flu season so parents need to be aware of how they can minimize the chances of their children getting the flu.

Credit: iStock

Halloween may be right around the corner, and you may already be planning your Thanksgiving menu, not to mention digging out those Christmas decorations, but what you really need to be thinking about is flu season. The dreaded flu season is here which means that it's time to get you and your kids their flu shots if you haven't already done so.

The flu season has already begun, with several states already reporting deaths due to the illness, WebMD reports. And while this year's flu season is just beginning, last year's season was the longest in over a decade, lasting 21 weeks. Flu season typically begins in October and can run until February, which is why the CDC is recommending that all children be vaccinated before Halloween. "Now is the best time to get your flu shot," CDC press officer Scott Pauley told USA TODAY. "You want to get it before the season really starts."

The CDC also recommends the flu vaccine for children as young as six months. Those between six months and 8 years of age may need two doses so they should be receiving their first shot earlier. The second dose can only be given four weeks after the first dose, so in order to be fully protected by the end of October younger children should have started their flu vaccine program by the end of September.

There have been many reports that the flu is going to be particularly nasty this year but the CDC won't give that prediction. They do say that the flu is unpredictable and that every season is different. They did state that flu season typically peaks between December and February and that people should not only get the flu vaccine to help prevent the spread of the disease but also practice good hygiene every day and keep people home if they're sick.

Ogbonnaya Omenka, an associate professor and public health specialist at Butler University told USA Today that Australia, which is currently at the end of their flu season, saw the highest number of cases of the flu in history this year, noting that could be an indication of what the US can expect. "It definitely is concerning because the U.S. flu season comes after Australia’s," he said.

If you haven't booked your appointment yet, now is the time! Do you get flu shots every year?