Flu shots for kids: Does your child need more than one dose this year?

Ahead of what may be an intense flu season, pediatrics are urging parents to get kids vaccinated against the flu. Some kids need two flu shots for full protection.

Ahead of what may be an intense flu season, the American Academy of Pediatrics urged parents on Tuesday to make sure their children are vaccinated against the flu this fall, adding that some kids may need more than one flu shot.

The recommendation that some children need two flu shots is not new, but experts say it's particularly important after two years of the Covid pandemic.

Children ages 6 months through 8 years old who've either never received a flu shot or who've only ever had a single flu shot should get two this year, a month apart, for maximum protection.

The recommendation comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has advised this strategy since the 2009 H1N1 epidemic. Last month, the agency reminded parents that some children may need a second shot.

This strategy may have an even greater impact during the 2022-2023 flu season, experts said, because the number of children getting flu shots and other recommended vaccines has slowed in recent years.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/flu-shots-kids-child-need-one-dose-year-rcna46165

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