Influenza Vaccines
We recommend that ALL children age 6 months and older receive an annual influenza vaccine. Additionally, all caregivers and close contacts of children under 6 months of age should be vaccinated as well.
Two types of influenza vaccine are available:
You may click on either type of vaccine above to see its corresponding Vaccine Information Statement published by the Center for Disease Control.
It can take up to 2 to 4 weeks for protection to develop after being vaccinated.
When choosing which vaccine to get, please consider the following:
- If a child is under 9 years old and is receiving a flu vaccine for the first time ever, they must receive two doses of vaccine separated by four weeks. The same guidelines apply for any child under 9 years old who received only one dose of flu vaccine their first year. All children age 9 and older receive one dose of vaccine, regardless of prior influenza vaccination.
- Children 2 years and older may receive either intranasal or injectable influenza vaccine.
- Children 6 months to 23 months old must receive injectable influenza vaccine.
- Intranasal influenza vaccine is contraindicated in children with certain medical conditions, including wheezing in the prior 12 months.
- A limited amount of preservative-free influenza vaccine is available upon request for children 6 months to 23 months of age.
Please feel free to ask us for clarification of any of the above information.

