By Edward Malphus, M.D.
QUESTION: Because of the vaccine shortage, my 8-month-old baby will not be receiving the second dose of his flu shot. I’m worried. Is one dose still effective against the flu?
ANSWER: The flu season is hitting children particularly hard this season. Unfortunately, due to the nationwide shortage of flu shots, some parents may not be able to obtain the second flu shot for their children ages 6 months and older (the flu vaccine is not given to children under 6 months old).
If your infant receives only one dose of the vaccine, he will still receive some protection from the flu, but it is unknown exactly how much protection a single dose provides to a previously unvaccinated child. In all likelihood, if your child does come down with the flu, it will be a milder case than if he had not received any vaccination at all. In addition, even if he only receives one dose of the flu shot this year, he will need only one dose next year.
However, if your child has any chronic illnesses such as asthma or other respiratory problems, and if this is the first year he is receiving the vaccine under 9 years old, he should receive two doses of the flu shot, administered one month apart.
If your infant has any siblings who have not yet been vaccinated, please remember that healthy children ages 5 years and older can get the FluMist nasal spray vaccine, which may still be available. If your pediatrician doesn’t have it, check with the county health department and your local hospitals.
Unlike the flu shot, which is made of a killed virus, the FluMist nasal spray vaccine is made of a live, but weakened flu virus. After vaccination, children may suffer mild flu-like symptoms for a day. Once vaccinated, it takes about two weeks for the body to build up protection against the flu bug, so try to keep children away from other sick children during the two weeks following their vaccination.
In light of the severity of the influenza outbreak this year, parents should consider getting flu shots for all of their children. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends flu shots for all family members and close contacts of children under the age of 2 years old. (Edward Malphus, M.D. is a pediatrician at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. For more information, call (310) 829-5511 or visit the hospital’s Web site at www.stjohns.org).
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 30, 2003. Read the original PDF.