When you have a baby at home, cold and flu season can bring extra worries. Because infants and young children are at higher risk for serious flu-related illness, getting the flu vaccine is one of the best ways to help protect their health.
Below, we cover why flu shots are so important for babies, when and where they can get one, and how many doses they’ll need.
When can babies get the flu shot? Every year, beginning at 6 months old.
Babies can get their first flu vaccine once they turn 6 months old. If a baby is getting the vaccine for the first time, they’ll need two doses, given at least four weeks apart.
Updated flu shots for the upcoming respiratory season are typically available every September. To ensure the best protection throughout flu season, doctors usually recommend that babies get the first dose as soon as they’re available in September and the second dose by the end of October.
However, flu shots are available throughout the entire cold and flu season – sometimes as late as May. So babies who turn 6 months old during the season can still receive a vaccine.
Why should babies get the flu shot? They save lives.
The flu can be quite dangerous, especially for young children and those with weakened immune systems. Flu vaccines help keep babies, families and communities healthy.
The flu shot gives your baby’s immune system additional support
Babies under age 2 are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill from the flu and developing complications. Because your baby’s immune system is still developing, it can be harder for them to fight off infections like the flu.
The flu shot helps your baby’s immune system recognize and respond to flu viruses more quickly and effectively. While babies and young children are more vulnerable to the flu than older children and healthy adults, a yearly flu shot helps strengthen their defenses against the flu viruses most likely to circulate each season.
Flu vaccines for babies are safe and effective
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), getting the recommended flu shots can significantly reduce the risk of getting the flu and help prevent serious complications like pneumonia and ear infections in babies.
The benefits can be lifesaving. Flu vaccines help reduce hospitalizations, and recent data shows that they lower the risk of flu-related death by more than 75% in children with underlying, higher risk medical conditions, and by more than 85% in otherwise healthy children.
Your baby’s flu shot helps protect others, too
Flu viruses spread easily, and what causes mild symptoms in one person can lead to serious illness in someone else. By helping reduce your baby’s risk of getting the flu, you can also help protect:
- Infants younger than 6 months old who cannot get a flu vaccine
- Others at higher risk of severe flu complications, including adults age 65 and older, and people of any age with certain chronic health conditions
Flu shots are covered 100% by most insurance plans
Most health insurance plans cover flu shots at no cost to you. Even if your insurance doesn’t cover vaccinations or you don’t have insurance, your baby may still be eligible to receive a flu shot at no cost.
Through the Vaccines for Children program, children who are uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid-eligible, or American Indian or Alaska Native can receive recommended vaccines, including the flu vaccine, at no cost.
What are the types of flu vaccines for babies and children? It depends on their age.
The flu shot is the only influenza vaccine approved for babies 6 months old and older. For children over the age of 2, a nasal spray flu vaccine may also be an option. Both types of flu vaccines are updated each year to help protect against the influenza strains that experts expect will be most common during the upcoming flu season.
How the flu shot is given: The Infant flu shot schedule
As mentioned above, babies getting a flu vaccine for the first time need two doses, given at least four weeks apart. It’s best for your baby to get their first flu shot as soon as they can – either when flu vaccines become available in September or when they turn 6 months old during flu season.
Your baby can get a flu shot at the same time as other vaccines, and they’re often given during well-baby visits for infants over 6 months old. Just remember to come back for the second dose about four weeks later. You can schedule a vaccine-only appointment for this.
If your baby is born during flu season and isn't able to receive both flu vaccine doses during their first flu season, they should receive two doses the following flu season.
Why infants need two flu shot doses the first time they’re vaccinated
Flu shots contain inactive components of the influenza virus. The first dose helps your baby’s immune system recognize the virus and start building antibodies to fight it. Since this is often a baby’s first exposure to flu virus components, one dose alone may not provide enough protection.
The second dose acts as a booster, strengthening the immune response started by the first shot and helping the body produce more protective antibodies. For most babies getting a flu shot for the first time, receiving both doses is the best way to build strong protection against the flu throughout the season.
What happens if a baby doesn’t get a second flu shot dose
If a baby doesn't receive the second dose of their flu vaccine, they won’t be as well protected against the flu as they would be after completing the recommended two-dose series. This can increase the chance of sickness and more severe flu symptoms in babies.
If your child misses their second dose, they don't need to start the vaccine series over. But it can be important to get the second dose as soon as possible. Talk to your child’s doctor about what makes sense in your situation. They can provide personal guidance based on the time from the first dose and the current flu season activity.
Where can babies get a flu shot? Your preferred medical clinic.
Most pharmacies don’t or can’t vaccinate babies or young children, so making an appointment at your preferred health clinic is best. Your baby can get a flu shot at any HealthPartners primary care location, either as part of a primary care appointment or a vaccine-only appointment.
Help your baby and family stay safe this flu season
Flu vaccines help people of all ages stay healthy, and you’re up to 60% less likely to get the flu if you’ve been vaccinated, according to the CDC. But there’s even more you can do to keep your baby and family healthy during the fall and winter months.
When the flu circulates within our communities, so do other respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The good news is that there are additional immunizations that can provide more complete protection during this respiratory season, including:
- The COVID-19 vaccine: A yearly COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for almost everyone 6 months old and older.
- RSV immunization: Immunization helps protect babies from RSV, which can cause serious respiratory symptoms. The monoclonal antibody treatment for RSV is recommended for babies under 8 months old during their first respiratory season.
Talk to your doctor about vaccines and treatments that can help keep you and your child healthy during this flu and respiratory season. You can also schedule vaccine-only appointments.