Im paranoid about the flu that has claimed children and toddlers lives in the past weeks in Australia..
I know adults can get a vaccine but is there one available for babies under 2?
My son is nearly 20 months old.
2007-08-13 22:57:11 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Yes, there is a flu vaccine for babies under 2. My daughter had her first flu vaccine even before she's one. But flu vaccine is done at least once a year cause the virus strain evolve.
Try asking your health department for assistance. Most territories offer free preventive health care. http://www.health.wa.gov.au/contact/
2007-08-13 23:04:06 · answer #1 · answered by Ami C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Babies under 2 can get the same influenza vaccine as adults but obviously at a smaller dose. See your doctor for advice. He will need to get two doses (one now, one in 4 weeks) because this is his first time and he is quite young. If you are worried there is also a medication called Tamiflu (oseltamivir) which your doctor can prescribe for him to take if he gets any flu. Tamiflu can be taken from 1 year old. Note: the vaccine only prevents certain strains of the flu, so is not a complete defence. It is also ineffective against the common cold (which is often mistakenly called 'the flu').
2007-08-14 06:04:14 · answer #2 · answered by Chrissy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have no idea of the type of vaccine they use in Australia but if it's the same as in the U.S. and, I assume it is the same, then you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Usually they don't give the vaccine to babies because the babies still have the immunity from their mothers and are usually considered to be O.K.
But, talk to your doctor about this, he'll either confirm or deny what I'm saying but, you'll then be satisfied with the answers.
I didn't know they had such an outbreak of the flu in Australia and will look into it, not with he deaths you say there are. I'm sorry to hear that.
2007-08-14 09:21:04 · answer #3 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to your doctor. Also, has your son ever eaten eggs before? If not, you may want to see how he tolerates them first. Most flu vaccines are cultured on egg protein so if your son is allergic to eggs there could be a bad reaction.
2007-08-14 06:10:56 · answer #4 · answered by SadieB 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Children can have the flu vaccine. You will need to discuss it with your doctor and get it from them if your son is suitable.
2007-08-14 06:03:08 · answer #5 · answered by Nurse P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋