Question:
If I have a healthy child, does getting the flu shot reduce their risk of getting sick with the flu or other respiratory infections over not getting the flu shot?
Answer:
Yes
MedHead Confidence Score: 3
Amount Saved: $125 doctor visit for the flu
MedHead Message:
This Cochrane review showed that only one (1) study had been done up until 2012 on flu outcomes in children under two years of age, despite recommendations of all national pediatric academies to vaccinate starting at age six months. Wow! That’s pretty sparse evidence! For children older than two years, you need to vaccinate only eight children to prevent one influenza-like illness, (meaning less time out of school with illness and less lost time at work) which is probably worth getting your child vaccinated. For children under two years of age, The jury is still out.
References:
1. Jefferson T. et. al. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Aug 15;(8):CD004879.
