Flu season isn’t exactly the most wonderful time of the year, but there are ways to reduce your little one’s risk of getting the influenza virus. The best strategies are washing your hands frequently, avoiding sick people, masking in crowded indoor spaces, and getting the flu shot. It’s understandable to feel nervous about your little one getting a shot, but the benefits of the flu shot far exceed any discomfort they might feel.
The flu shot is a vaccine that protects recipients against the influenza virus. In this age group, you usually have the choice between a typical injection or a nasal spray. Experts recommend that everyone over six months old receive it every year, so that includes your toddler! This annual recommendation is because your response to immunization wears off over time and the shot is adjusted for each flu season to include the viruses expected to be most common that year. Although the flu vaccine may not be perfect from year to year, it reduces the most serious complications if your toddler gets the flu – like hospitalization or even death.
There are special vaccinations for children six months old to eight years old. If your child is six months to eight years old and getting vaccinated for the first time, they will probably need two doses to be fully immunized. If your child requires two doses and only receives one, they will not be as protected as possible against the flu.
The second dose should be given 28 days after the first, so try to get the first one done as soon as the vaccine is available. This way, they will be immunized for most of the flu season. It will be about two weeks after the second dose before full immunization, so earlier is definitely better. Many vaccines are available as early as August. Waiting until October is fine for older children, but toddlers are better off getting immunized as early as possible.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health by Labcorp Clinical Team
A note on vaccines
Ovia Health by Labcorp is committed to providing evidence-based guidance and supporting families with trusted health information. Recent shifts and changes to vaccination recommendations and schedules for pregnant women, children, and infants have raised questions about the safety and efficacy.
We continue to follow the guidance of leading medical organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians about vaccination safety and continued use. Your healthcare provider is best positioned to advise you on vaccination safety for pregnant women, infants, children, and the broader public.
Read more
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). “AAP Immunization Schedule.” 2026. Web https://publications.aap.org/redbook/resources/15585/AAP-Immunization-Schedule
