You can protect your baby from getting the flu during flu season by getting them vaccinated after the age of 6 months! Defend your baby from those telltale chills, aches, and fever by getting a flu shot each year. Flu shots are recommended yearly for babies starting at 6 months of age.  

Since babies are at a higher risk of complications from the flu, but can’t get the vaccine until they are 6 months old, it’s important for all the children and adults in contact with baby get their annual flu shot. 

What is the flu? 

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness and can lead to hospitalization and death. Every year in the United States, millions of people are sickened, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized and thousands or tens of thousands of people die from the flu. 

Anyone can get the flu (even healthy people) and serious problems related to the flu can happen at any age, but some people are a higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease), pregnant women, and young children. 

Visit the CDC for more information on the flu and flu shot.