Flu Shots: Why They’re More Important Than Ever in 2022

Roll up your sleeves – again. As experts predict a severe flu season, protecting your family’s health is more important than ever.

Let’s be honest: after more than two and a half years live pandemic, many Canadians are tired of hearing about vaccines, boosters and viruses in general. We’re seeing fewer masks in public spaces and trying to understand what “living with COVID” means for each of us. Flu shots may not be the most important thing for many parents right now, and in some cases, they’re not even on the radar.

Understandably, pandemic fatigue may affect what precautions you take (or don’t take) this fall and winter. But with a drastic reduction in masking and physical distancing, viruses are circulating much more freely than they did this time last year — and that means it’s time for your family to roll up their sleeves and get the flu shot.

Why kids should get the flu shot—now more than ever

“Children are one of the more vulnerable populations when it comes to influenza,” says Dr. Natasha Collia, an emergency room physician at SickKids in Toronto. “Kids are back in school and in activities and we know it cases of influenza are expected to increase.”

Symptoms of the flu (which has several different strains) are similar to those of COVID-19 and include fever, chills, aches, cough and sore throat. Children may experience gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. In severe cases, influenza in children can cause pneumonia, dehydration, heart or neurological problems that can lead to hospitalization or death. Flu cases were dramatically lower during the peak of the pandemic due to public health measures like masking and physical distancing, but are expected to rise significantly this season. According to Health Canada, in an average non-pandemic year, about 12,000 Canadians are hospitalized with the flu, including several hundred children. A remarkable number, says Collia, considering how easy it is to prevent such serious cases.

Flu shots are available to all Canadians aged six months or older, and it is safe for pregnant women. Despite claims to the contrary You can’t get the flu from the flu shot. The influenza vaccine is also available as a nasal spray, although infants and young children under the age of two, children with compromised immune systems, pregnant women, and people taking certain medications must be given the injectable version.

Who is most at risk from the flu?

Children under the age of five are at risk of severe influenza, and children under the age of three are particularly at risk, Collia says. Elderly and immunocompromised people are also at high risk, so it’s important to avoid spreading the flu to grandparents and other high-risk contacts — for example, the neighbor who has just undergone cancer treatment or a teacher who has an autoimmune disease .

It’s also important to remember that many hospitals are still overwhelmed. “There is a shortage of medicines and the healthcare system is under pressure due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” says Dr. Jennifer Kwan, primary care physician in Burlington, Ontario. Many families find it difficult to access essential over-the-counter pediatric medications such as Tylenol or Advil, resulting in unnecessary emergency room visits. This is especially true as the flu season begins, as scientists warn that new, more infectious COVID strains are on the way.

By protecting our families from the flu and other viruses, we are doing our part to lessen the burden on healthcare workers while keeping our loved ones healthy. dr Kwan adds that preventive measures like wearing a well-fitting mask indoors will reduce the spread of several respiratory infections, including influenza.

Are there any risks with the flu vaccination?

While Disinformation about flu shots and vaccines in general continue to rage, the proven truth is that influenza vaccination is a simple and effective way to prevent serious illness and death in adults and children over the age of six months. “It has shown great effectiveness worldwide,” says Collia. “Yes, [the flu shot] is safe – and it is our best protection.”

As with any vaccine, there may be mild and manageable side effects such as fever or redness and soreness at the injection site – or if you’ve been given a nasal spray dose of the influenza vaccine, a sore throat or runny nose. All of these side effects should go away within a day or two, and some individuals will not experience them at all.

When should children get the flu shot?

As soon as possible, our experts agree. There’s an easy way to remind yourself from year to year when you need to get your influenza vaccine: flu before boo. Essentially, get your shot as early as possible—before Halloween at the latest. “You want to get the shot and get your body to build up resistance to the virus, and that takes about two weeks,” says Collia.

And if you book a flu shot and a COVID-19 refresher? Adults can get them at the same time, but experts recommend that children under the age of 12 wait two weeks between vaccinations. If your child experiences side effects, this makes it easier to pinpoint the cause.

What should I do if my child has the flu?

While the influenza vaccine covers the dominant strains of influenza, it cannot prevent all cases. Some children will inevitably get infected — and medical professionals are doing their best to prepare for it. “Our emergency room plans are [prepared for] Back-to-school viruses,” says Collia. But she also notes that educating and empowering parents about their child’s health is just as important.

So when should parents see a doctor? “If at any point your child has trouble breathing or is trying to breathe heavily, describes severe muscle pain or refuses to walk, appears dehydrated — not producing tears or not peeing — or is having a seizure,” Collia says, consult a doctor. (She adds that you should do it if your child is under 12 weeks old and has a fever Always take her to the emergency room.) Other warning signs are a cough that gets better but then becomes acutely worse. “This information can help parents navigate [viruses] and alleviates that anxiety and frustration as well.”

The real message here: don’t let it get to that point. “If you protect [your health] upfront, it allows for less disease-related disruption and less disruption to family dynamics—such as [missing] Work or school – and it also prevents serious illnesses,” says Collia. After the last two and a half years, less disruption sounds good to us.