There are three types of viruses that cause influenza, the A and B types cause the yearly outbreaks that we are accustomed to hearing about via the news; there is also a type C virus is that is responsible for mild illnesses.
Flu among Children
Younger children spend a lot of time in close quarters, such as in a classroom or daycare. At Horizon Education Centers, we take steps to minimize the potential for transmission but it is still extremely difficult to prevent kids from passing the virus on. All of this makes getting the flu vaccine essential to keep your family healthy.
About Flu Vaccines
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that everyone over the age of six months is given a flu vaccine. The types of vaccines that are available are:
• The Trivalent Flu Vaccine
This vaccine provides protection from two types A viruses and a type B virus.
• The Quadrivalent Flu Vaccine
This vaccine protects against four viruses: two type A viruses and two type B viruses.
Concerns about the Safety of Vaccines
In recent years, some parents have raised concerns about the safety of flu shots; however, flu vaccines are not a new phenomenon. They have been used for close to fifty years with a good track record. Any kind of side effect is rare, and the serious ones are the rarest of all.
Young children and seniors are thought to have the highest risk of getting the flu, which can be serious enough to require hospitalization. Evidence has shown that flu shots for preschoolers can be effective. One study reported by the CDC found that hospitalizations due to influenza declined by 12 percent over five years because of flu vaccines.
