Flu Prevention Recommendations
§ Young toddlers should be
vaccinated
Children between 6 months and 23 months-healthy or not-should still
receive a flu vaccine, as should older adults (ages 65 and older), pregnant
women, and healthcare workers.
§
Some school-age children still need the vaccine. Children with chronic health problems still need to
get a flu shot.
§
Follow your nose. The intranasal vaccine
(inhaled through the nose) may be available for children, ages 5 to 49, who
want protection from the flu but are not considered high risk. Pregnant women
should not use this vaccine.
§ Spread the word about
spreading germs.
Because germs are invisible, it’s difficult for
children to understand how dangerous a cough or sneeze can be.
Be sure to stress to them the importance of washing their hands, using lots
of soap and water, and scrubbing until there are bubbles-before meals and
snacks and after coughing, sneezing, or using a tissue. Many brands of liquid hand soap come in fun
designs, scents, or colors, and letting children pick their own can be a fun
way to encourage hand washing
§
Sing the birthday song. Teach your child to wash
their hands for as long as it takes to sing the entire “Happy Birthday” song.
§
There’s a place to cough. Certainly,
children need to learn to always cover their mouths when they cough, but one
way to prevent the spread of germs is to have them cough into their sleeves,
not their hands.
§
Tissue talk. “Used” tissues are full of
germs. Teach your children to
immediately put used tissues in the trash and then wash their hands.
Too sick to be in school?
§ Extreme fatigue or muscle
aches.
Children who can’t keep their eyes open, even after having a normal
night’s sleep, may be coming down with something. Add an “achy” feeling and loss of appetite, and it’s likely that
the flu is on the way. If your child is
feeling too ill to stay awake in class, consider having him or her stay
home. At the very least, alert the
teacher and make sure someone is available in case he or she needs to come
home. Before returning to school, your
child needs to have gone without a fever or vomiting for at least 24 hours.
§
Get the school’s help with make-up work. Talk to the teacher to
find out the best way for your child to make up missed work. Often, a child not quite well enough to
return to class can complete assignments at home, making the workload a lot
easier to manage once he or she is back in school.
Children who are feverish, nauseated, or bone-tired can’t learn well and can spread their illness to other, so keep them home. Be sure that if they do miss school, it is for a good reason, and have them make up work as soon as possible.