5Qs: What parents need to know about Flu and COVID-19 ⋆ Children's Health

October means pumpkins, costumes and candy, but it also means flu season is here. Getting a flu vaccine this fall will be more important than ever, not only to reduce your risk from flu but also to help conserve potentially scarce health care resources as we continue to fight COVID-19. While receiving a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, flu vaccination have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death.

At what age should my child receive a flu shot?

Annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older, with rare exceptions, because it is an effective way to decrease flu illnesses.

Is the flu vaccine safe?

Flu vaccines are made using strict safety and production measures. Millions of people have safely received flu vaccines for decades. Flu shots and nasal spray flu vaccines are both options for vaccination.

If my child is normally healthy, should they receive a flu shot?

Even healthy kids of any age can get seriously sick from the flu, and they can spread it to family, friends, and others. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every year.

How do I tell the difference between COVID-19 and the flu?

Some symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar making it hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Our testing can help determine if you are sick with flu or COVID-19. Call our COVID-19 hotline 706-721-1852 for assistance.

Why is it important for flu vaccines to be given during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders, have led to decreased use of routine preventive medical services, including immunization services. Ensuring that people continue or start getting routine vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential for protecting people and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks, including flu.