Being a parent comes with many decisions that you have to make on a regular basis. What foods will you serve your child, what school will they go to, when to put them to bed, and so much more. One of the more critical and challenging decisions that parents face is rather or not to vaccinate your child. Of course, there are many vaccines to make that decision on, but today we’re going to take a closer look at the flu vaccine.
Why is the Flu Vaccine Important?
The flu vaccine is a vaccination your child should receive each year at the beginning of flu season, but it’s never too late to make the decision to get them vaccinated. The flu vaccine effectively lowers the likelihood of your child developing the flu by 40 – 60 percent. While those aren’t percent numbers, they’re much better than 0 percent protection! Think about it like putting a seatbelt on when you get into the car. Does it ensure with 100% certainty you won’t get injured in a crash? No, but it dramatically improves your odds. Even knowing that it isn’t perfect, you still choose to put the seatbelt on because some certainty is better than none. The same goes for the flu vaccine!
How Serious is the Flu?
In 2017 fewer people decided to receive their flu shot than in recent years. Many of the people making that choice for themselves or their child fail to realize the harsh reality of just how serious the flu is. In 2017, 80 thousand people died from the flu in the US alone, including many children. The majority of those children that did die from the flu had no underlying medical condition or cause of death. Something as simple as a flu vaccine could have prevented many of those deaths and even more hospitalizations. Choosing to vaccinate your child means wanting to take any possible measure you can to protect their life. Your child receiving their flu shot helps to protect them, as well as anyone they come in contact with from them carrying and spreading the flu.
Remember, it’s never too late to get your child vaccinated! Many walk-in clinics, urgent cares, and doctor offices still carry the flu shot, and you can get your child vaccinated in minutes. Make the decision the protect the most important thing to any parent – the safety of your child.