Seasonal Influenza Information for Children and Adolescents

Seasonal influenza is more dangerous than the common cold for children. Each year, flu places a large burden on the health and well-being of children and families. An influenza vaccination is the best method for preventing seasonal flu and its potentially severe complications in children. The New York State Department of Health recommends that all children aged 6 months up to their 19^th birthday get a seasonal flu vaccine.

The seasonal influenza vaccine is not approved for use in children younger than 6 months old, but their risk of flu complications is higher than for any other child age group. The best way to protect children younger than 6 months against seasonal influenza is to make sure members of their household and their caregivers are vaccinated.

• Influenza and Benefits of Influenza Vaccination educational materials
  • The Flu: A Guide for Parents
    • Spanish (PDF)
    • Italian (PDF)
    • Chinese (PDF)
    • Haitian Creole (PDF)
    • Korean (PDF)
    • Russian (PDF)
  • The Flu: A Guide for Parents CDC
  • The Flu: A Guide for Parents CDC (Spanish)
• Flu Symptom Checklist for Families (PDF)
• Protect Against Flu: Caregivers of Infants and Young Children, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Febrile Seizures Following Childhood Vaccinations, Including Influenza Vaccination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Thimerosal in Flu Vaccine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Those with Chronic Health Problems
  • Flu and People with Asthma, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • You, Your Child, Asthma and the Flu
  • You, Your Child, Asthma and the Flu (Spanish) (PDF)
  • Flu and People with Diabetes, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Flu and Children with Neurologic Conditions, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Your Child, Chronic Disease and The Flu