Kids Flu Shots Clinic in Frisco, TX

Vaccines or immunizations like flu shots are types of vaccines. In order to develop immunity to specific diseases, you need not become ill or infected first. As soon as you’re vaccinated, you’re protected from the condition that the vaccine targets. Vaccines also prevent or slow the spread of infectious diseases between communities, not just individuals. The flu vaccine must be updated every year, unlike the many pediatric vaccines given in the early years of a child’s life. Each year, a new variant of influenza mutates and circulates, so the vaccine has to be reformulated. Studies and information are used by vaccine manufacturers to determine which variants are likely to dominate during a particular flu season. There is no risk associated with vaccinations, including the flu vaccine. A flu shot is the most effective way to reduce your risk of getting the flu or spreading it to others each year.

Due to the dangers flu poses to very young children, children under five should be vaccinated against it yearly. When young children come down with the flu, they are at a greater risk of developing serious complications. As a result of the flu, children younger than five years of age are at risk of hospitalization, as well as pneumonia, dehydration, and brain dysfunction in worst-case scenarios.

The flu vaccine should be administered to every child 6 months of age and older every year unless there is a medical reason not to. The flu vaccine isn’t recommended for babies under 6 months old, but they will benefit from increased immunity if their mother got the vaccine while pregnant.

It is best to schedule it on a day and time that is convenient for you and your child. The shot should not be scheduled during nap time for young children or at the end of the child’s school day when they are tired. It might be better for school-age children to participate in a weekend visit for a flu shot rather than after a busy school day when they might feel tired, crabby, and less able to manage stress.
 
Be sure to bring a comfort item, perhaps some toys, and something to distract them. The procedure is very quick, so many items are not required, just the ones the child will need.
 
 The best way to prepare young children for what is expected each day is to give them a sequence of events (before they understand the concept of time) so that they understand and feel prepared.
 
There are times when flu shot appointments don’t go as well as expected. You can ask the child how it went when he or she is ready to share. Try to avoid assuming the child thought or felt it went terribly and hold back from sharing what you thought.

It is recommended that your child get a flu vaccine in the fall by the time he or she is 6 months old. In some cases, children between the ages of 6 months and 8 years may require two doses to be sufficiently protected. To prevent flu from spreading in your community, the CDC recommends getting vaccinated by the end of October. The flu vaccination should continue to be offered throughout the flu season, even into January and beyond.

It is recommended that children 6 months through 8 years old receiving their first flu vaccine, or those who have received one dose only previously, receive two doses. As soon as the vaccine is available, the first dose should be administered. A child who has previously received two doses of flu vaccine (at any time) only needs one dose this season.

The flu shot is available at Pediatric Associates of Frisco. For more information, please contact us or request an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 9191 Kyser Way, Suite 500, Frisco, TX 75033. We serve patients from Frisco TX, Little Elm TX, The Colony TX, McKinney TX, Prosper TX, Aubrey TX, Oak Point TX, Lakewood Village TX, Plano TX, and Dallas TX.