Vaccinations are an often-debated topic. Some parents feel the possible side effects aren’t worth the risk. Others want their child to avoid life-threatening complications if their child contracts an illness from a peer.
Consider this when deciding if your child should get the annual flu shot before school starts. In the 2024/2025 flu season, complications from this virus killed 266 children. Ninety percent of those children had not gotten a flu shot. Is fear of side effects worth risking your child’s life?
Serious allergic reactions are possible but unlikely after a flu shot. There’s also a progressive nerve disorder known as Guillain-Barre that occurs in some people, but it’s less than 2 cases per 1 million vaccinations. The risks are not high.
It’s important to talk to your child’s pediatrician about the importance of vaccinations and the possible risk factors that make an immunization a risk to your child’s health. Most children handle vaccinations without any complications beyond pain at the injection site and tiredness. Premium Urgent Care offers some tips, answers some questions, and gives some advice for this upcoming school year.
Who Should Get Vaccinated
While it’s safe for most children to get their flu shot before school starts, there are a few reasons why some children shouldn’t get vaccinated.
- The child is under 6 months of age.
- The child has an allergy to an ingredient in the vaccine, such as gelatin or egg.
- The child has had a reaction to flu shots in the past.
All other children should get the vaccination to avoid life-threatening complications. It’s best to do this in September or October, but it does take two weeks for a flu shot to be fully effective at preventing severe symptoms of the flu.
Getting the flu shot before school starts might be advised by your child’s pediatrician. If you don’t have a California pediatrician or cannot get an appointment in time, Premium Urgent Care in Fresno offers flu shots and consultations.
We Answer FAQs About Flu Shots
You have questions about the yearly flu shot. We compiled a list of the most common questions parents ask us. If your question isn’t in this list, bring your child in for a quick appointment. Our doctors are happy to discuss the benefits of a flu shot and provide the vaccination at the same time.
1. Can my child get more than one vaccination at the same time?
Most children are healthy enough to get multiple vaccinations at the same time. If you want your child to get COVID and influenza protection at the same time, talk to the doctor. Your child may tolerate both shots well.
2. Could my child get the nasal spray vaccine instead of a shot?
The FDA approved FluMist for healthy children and adults between the ages of 2 and 49 to administer at home. It does require a prescription, however, so a visit or consultation with a doctor is still necessary.
3. Does the flu shot prevent the flu?
The flu shot cannot prevent your child from getting the flu. There’s no 100% guarantee.
What it does is help the body prepare for the flu. If your child does come into contact with another child or adult who has the flu, the body is ready to fight. That helps prevent serious symptoms and life-threatening complications.
4. Don’t flu shots contain dangerous levels of mercury?
There is a lot of concern about the use of mercury in flu shots. Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that’s used in minimal amounts in some multi-dose flu vaccines. Studies find it’s safe.
Any parent who is still concerned can ask the doctor for their child to have the flu vaccine from a single-dose vial or pre-filled syringe. Don’t let the fear of thimerosal keep your child from getting the flu shot.
5. What are the possible side effects?
Sometimes, the common side effects of the flu shot make people believe they have the flu. It’s not the same. These side effects will disappear within a day or two, unlike the flu, which can last over a week. The side effects are:
- Body aches
- Headache
- Mild fever
- Pain at the injection site
- Tiredness
6. Why get a flu shot every year? Isn’t one enough?
Many shots are given in a series, and then the child is done. Flu is not like that because the strains are different each year. Yearly immunizations help build protection for the virus that has been the most prevalent during other countries’ winter seasons.
7. Isn’t my child getting the flu from the vaccine?
This is a common concern. Because a flu shot contains some form of the virus, people believe it gives you the flu. It’s not the case. There are just enough inactive flu cells to trigger your immune system to start building a defense. It takes two weeks for that defense to build.
People who get the flu after having a flu shot are simply unlucky. It means they were exposed to the flu before the body has had time to build an immune response.
Paying for a Flu Shot
Most health insurers cover the flu shot. This includes Medi-Cal. If you’re concerned, reach out to your insurance company to confirm the flu shot is covered.
The flu vaccine is generally covered by most health insurance plans, including Medicare Part B, with a $0 copay. However, it’s always a good idea to check with your insurance provider to confirm coverage.
Is your child eligible for Medi-Cal? If so, people 18 or younger are eligible for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. VFC offers 16 immunizations to keep children healthy. The flu shot, COVID-18, RSV, and other standard childhood vaccines are part of the program.
Don’t let the lack of insurance coverage keep you from getting your kids vaccinated. There’s always a way to get affordable vaccines that keep your child safe.
Where to Get Vaccinated
Fresno residents have several options for getting a flu shot. Fresno Unified School District is offering free immunization clinics for area students. It’s one option that’s available, and flu shots are not the only offering. There are other options if you cannot attend a free immunization clinic.
Age restrictions and long wait periods may make it difficult to get your children vaccinated before school starts. Here are some of the options available to you.
- Doctor’s Office – Your child’s pediatrician has influenza vaccines, but you may need to wait for an appointment.
- Pharmacies – Local pharmacies like Costco, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart offer discounted or free vaccinations, depending on your insurance coverage. Some pharmacies have minimum age limits for vaccines, so make sure your child is old enough.
- Public Health Clinics – Public health clinics held by county health agencies often hold influenza vaccination clinics. They’re often walk-in clinics, so if they’re crowded, you may have a long wait. Fresno County residents can find the next Rural Mobile Health clinic and get vaccinated at one of them. They’re pop-up clinics held at different locations each month.
The better option is to go to urgent care during a less busy time of day. Urgent care is open later in the day than a doctor’s office and has weekend hours, too. To save time, Premium Urgent Care offers online check-in.