A member asked:
Is it safe for my baby to get a flu shot?
5 doctor answers • 22 doctors weighed in
Dr. Arthur Torreanswered
Pediatric Allergy and Asthma 53 years experience
Yes: Flu shots are recommended for everyone over 6 months of age.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Kathleen Forcieranswered
Specializes in Pediatrics
Yes: Unless your baby has a severe egg allergy or an illness that compromises her immune system, the flu shot is safe for kids 6 months and older. It's also a good idea for everyone else in the house to get the flu shot too (especially if mom is breastfeeding - then mom's flu shot further helps protect baby).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Douglas Tzanetosanswered
Allergy and Immunology 21 years experience
Yes: Flu vaccine is one of the safest and best tolerated immunizations. There are many misbeliefs about it. One is that the flu shot can give you the flu. This is absolutely incorrect. In fact it is really quite impossible for the flu shot to give you the flu since it is a killed virus vaccine. The only clear reason to avoid flu vaccination is a history of anaphylaxis (severe allergy) to egg.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Boyan Hadjievanswered
Internal Medicine 23 years experience
Yes: Yes, it is. The only current exception is if the patient has had a documented severe allergy to eggs. Even in such cases, it is probably safe to give the vaccine, which may be split in two doses on two separate visits.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Mark Diamondanswered
Pediatrics 48 years experience
Yes: If your baby is older than 6 mos of age and has no immuniocompromizing condition, it is a lot safer to be immunized than to get influenza infection.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
Beverly Hills, CA
A 47-year-old male asked:
I am allergic to floroquinolones. Is it safe to get a flu shot ?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Nimish Gosranianswered
Anti-Aging Medicine 35 years experience
Flu shot: Yes.Only need to be careful with flu shot if you are allergic to eggs.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. John Chiu commented
Allergy and Immunology 59 years experience
The current recommendation is that flu vaccines are safe even if you are allergic to egg. There is a new egg-free flu vaccine given like a skin test. It will likely be more expensive than the traditional ones.
Sep 17, 2013
A member asked:
Should I get my baby a flu shot?
6 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in
Dr. Gregg Alexanderanswered
Pediatrics 35 years experience
Yes: If there's no specific reason your child shouldn't receive the shot, like an allergy, then, yes, most definitely. Flu shots can be given yearly after 6 months of age. Not giving the shot is not the same as not taking a risk; you're just accepting the much larger risk of getting the illness and a serious complication. Besides hygiene/clean water, nothing compares with vaccines for health value.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
How safe is a flu shot?
4 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in
Dr. Mark Diamondanswered
Pediatrics 48 years experience
Very!!: Although side effects can occur, such as fever, soreness, occasional achiness, and theoretically very rare more serious problems, it is much safer than being infected with the potential side effects of the infection, up to and including death! immunize, immunize, immunize.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Is it safe to get the 2nd gardasil shot and a flu shot in the same day?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 48 years experience
Yes: The human immune system is quite capable of responding to several vaccines (including these) at one time with the same level of protection as if given separately. We often need to give more than half a dozen at one time and their response has been verified.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
611 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
What should I do if my baby is too young for a flu shot?
17 doctor answers • 41 doctors weighed in
Dr. Arthur Torreanswered
Pediatric Allergy and Asthma 53 years experience
Shoot everyone else: Flu shots are recommended for anyone over 6 months of age. If your baby is younger that that, make sure everyone else in the household or has contact with your child gets the flu shot. Also for younger infants it is a good idea to avoid contact with anyone who has a cold if possible.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Dannielle Harwood commented
Family Medicine 26 years experience
Hopefully you are breast feeding and can pass your own antibodies against the flu to your infant!
Jul 13, 2013
Last updated Oct 31, 2017
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