Children 6 months and older should be vaccinated for flu as soon as vaccines are available and efforts to vaccinate children should continue as long as influenza viruses are circulating.
Unless contraindicated for that child, vaccinate all children aged 2 through 8, preferentially with live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) if the provider supply allows. However, vaccination should not be delayed to acquire LAIV if only Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (IIV) is available; in such circumstances IIV should be administered.
Remember, children aged 6 months through 8 years may need two doses of vaccine this fall if they:
- did not receive a dose of 2013-14 seasonal flu vaccine, or
- did not receive two doses of seasonal flu vaccine since July 1, 2010, or
- did not receive at least one seasonal flu vaccine before July 1, 2010 and a seasonal flu vaccine since July 1, 2010, or
- did not receive two or more doses of seasonal flu vaccine before July 1, 2010 and one dose of the 2009 monovalent H1N1 vaccine.
Egg allergies should not prevent someone from getting vaccinated. If they are 18 to 49 years of age they should receive the Recombinant Influenza Vaccine (Flublok). If they are younger than 18 years, or Flublok is unavailable, the inactivated influenza vaccine should be administered by a physician with experience in the recognition and management of severe allergic conditions. Full recommendations can be found at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6332a3.htm/.