“Vaccination is really the number one tool we have to prevent many infectious diseases,” says Dr. Dias. When so many viruses are circulating, it can reduce confusion, he adds.
The COVID-19 vaccine lowers the risk of hospitalization and death, and children 6 months and older can be vaccinated at any time. However, for the flu, the CDC recommends getting a flu shot before the end of October, although it is also available at other times. (Some children ages 6 months to 8 years will require two doses of the flu vaccine.)
While the flu shot isn’t always a perfect match for the predominant strain in any given year, it is a strong tool for preventing an infection that can be deadly in some children. Also, it can mean the difference between mild and severe illness in a child who gets sick despite receiving the vaccine.
There is not yet a vaccine to prevent RSV infection.
If possible, Dr. Murray encourages families to schedule a wellness checkup before school starts to assess their child’s overall health and update them on immunizations they may have missed during the pandemic, including flu shots. measles, whooping cough (whooping cough) and other diseases. .
“When vaccination levels drop in the population, these viruses come back,” says Dr. Murray. He adds that measles, in particular, is “super contagious and kids can get pretty sick.”
Source: www.yalemedicine.org