You should get your child the flu vaccine to protect them from serious illness, hospitalization, and death. The flu is more dangerous for children than the common cold, especially for those under five years old. Vaccination also helps protect vulnerable people around them, such as infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. 
Benefits for your child's health

• Prevents severe complications: The flu can cause serious complications in children, including pneumonia, brain dysfunction, ear infections, sinus problems, and dehydration. Children under five are at the highest risk.
• Reduces hospitalization and death: Studies have shown that the flu vaccine significantly lowers a child's risk of being hospitalized or dying from the flu. Data shows that in recent flu seasons, approximately 80% of pediatric flu deaths occurred in unvaccinated children.
• Makes symptoms less severe: Even if a vaccinated child does get the flu, their illness will be milder and shorter than if they were not vaccinated.
• Decreases doctor visits and missed school: Vaccinating your child can help them avoid missing school due to illness and reduces the need for doctor visits. 

Benefits for your community

• Protects vulnerable people: Children can easily spread the flu to other family members and people they interact with in the community. Vaccinating your child protects those who are most susceptible to severe flu, including infants under six months who are too young to be vaccinated.
• Contributes to herd immunity: When enough people in a community are vaccinated, it becomes difficult for a disease to spread, which helps protect the most vulnerable individuals. 

Safety and timing

• The vaccine is safe and cannot cause the flu. The flu shot contains an inactivated (killed) virus, while the nasal spray uses a weakened virus. Neither can give you the flu.
• Children need a flu shot every year because flu viruses change constantly. A new vaccine is developed each year to protect against the most common strains.
• Some children need two doses. The CDC recommends that children ages 6 months through 8 years who have not previously received at least two flu vaccine doses get two doses this season, spaced at least four weeks apart.
• The best time to get vaccinated is ideally by the end of October. However, getting vaccinated later in the season still offers protection and is better than not getting vaccinated at all. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to become fully effective.