The H1N1 virus is definitely at the forefront of all our minds these days, especially those of us who have small children. Here are a few words of advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding vaccines and antivirals:
These are the individual who should definitely think about getting vaccinations:
* Children ages 6 months through 4 years (up to their 5th birthday)
* Parents and caretakers of infants younger than 6 months
* Pregnant women
* Health care workers and emergency services personnel
* Children ages 6 months and older with chronic health conditions
How many doses do children need?
Children ages 9 and younger (up to their 10th birthday) will need two doses of H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine to receive the most protection against the virus. Ideally, they should get the second dose four weeks after the first dose. Children over the age of 9 will only need one dose.
A note about antivirals:
Most children will recover with rest and care at home. People in high-risk groups may need antiviral medicine. Antiviral medicine may help shorten the length of illness if taken soon after infection. If your child is in a high risk group and you suspect your child has influenza, or if your child has more severe influenza symptoms, call your pediatrician.
We hope this information has been helpful. For more information on H1N1 in regards to your child, please click here.