What happens if a child gets an adult flu shot?

No worries: The only difference between the flu shots is the dose: children under three get half the adult dose. That means a child will get an adult dose the day after his 3rd birthday, whereas the day before that birthday he would have received the smaller dose--half. Most importantly, the child is immunized against flu, which can be a terrible illness!

Immunity!: There is really no major difference between the adult flu shot and the pediatric shot. They provide the same immunity to the same strains of influenza virus. Children tend to get a better immune response from all vaccines, so they have higher level of antibodies.

Immunity to flu: Giving the adult dose of flu vaccine to a child will result in immunization to influenza. We currently use a smaller dose of flu vaccine in babies since it is proven to be effective. Nonetheless, the slightly larger adult dose works to develop immunity too. At age 36 months and above we use the 'adult' dose.

Probably nothing: The only difference is the amount given typically--0.25 ml in pediatric flu vaccine doses for chlidren 6 through 36 months old and 0.5 ml for children over 3 and adult flu doses--as well as the preservative used in the vaccine. Therefore if a child inadvertently receives an adult flu shot, you should not worry about it unless they develop a reaction (which is very unlikely).

Gets similar benefit: The main difference in flu shots is that children under age 3 years get a half-sized dose. Some vaccines are not approved by the fda for younger kids, but that does not necessarily mean there is any detectable harm from such vaccines to younger kids. So, a child who accidentally gets an adult flu shot should still develop protective antibodies against the flu viruses.

Not much usually: If a child gets an adult flu shot then usually there is not much that happens although a higher dose may cause a skin reaction. Just monitor carefully and if something starts to happen then please contact your dr for treatment of symptoms or if needs to be seen. Did your child get an adult flu shot?

Nothing: Most likely this should not cause any problems - the only issue is that the dose is higher. Under 3 years of age gets 1/2 the dose - it should not cause any problem.