I've seen countless SEO companies brag about such things on the home pages of their websites. But here's what the shady seo company with the bold promises would do. A business may do this on their own but many will want to consult with a professional SEO company to handle the management of web traffic and the visibility of your business. © Copyright 2005-2010 Department of Pediatric. All rights reserved. A template of the Vooweb.com Website templates network

Q. I know that flu season is coming. Do my kids needs a flu shot?

A. If they have a chronic medical condition, such as asthma, or if they are around other people who are at high for complications from getting the flu, then yes they should, with the best time to get a flu shot beginning during October or November (although you can get it later too). Although the flu season in the United States usually extends from November to April, the flu cases usually peak in late December to mid March. Getting a flu shot too early might not protect you later in the season. Protection begins about two weeks after you get your flu shot.

However, if your children are under 9 years of age and are getting the flu shot for the first time, they will need two shots one month apart, and it would be best to get started in October. People at high risk for flu complications (persons aged >65 years, persons aged 6 months--64 years with certain medical conditions, and healthy children aged 6--23 months), or who have household contacts of persons at increased risk for influenza-related complications, should also get their shot in October.

Fortunately, we do not seem to be having the same flu vaccine supply shortages as we have had in recent years.

This year this is an alternative to the flu shot. FluMist, a nasal spray flu vaccine (no shots), has been approved and is ready to be given to healthy children and adults from age 5 to 49 years.

Who Needs a Flu Shot
According to the Prevention and Control of Influenza Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a yearly flu shot is recommended for the following groups of people who are at increased risk for serious complications from the flu:

persons aged >50 years; (People 50-64 years of age who do not have chronic (long-term) medical conditions might not be at high risk for serious complications from the flu. However, about 26% of people aged 50-64 years have high-risk conditions and are at increased risk for flu-related complications. Beginning in 2000, a flu shot was recommended for all people 50-64 years old each year to increase the number of high-risk 50-64 year olds who get a flu shot.)


residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that house persons of any age who have long-term illnesses;


adults and children > 6 months of age who have chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma;


adults and children > 6 months of age who need regular medical care or had to be in a hospital because of metabolic diseases (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease, or weakened immune system (including immune system problems caused by medicine or by infection with human immunodeficiency virus [HIV/AIDS]);


children and teenagers (aged 6 months to 18 years) who are on long-term aspirin therapy and therefore could develop Reye Syndrome after the flu; and


women who will be more than 3 months pregnant during the flu season.


Because young, otherwise healthy children are at increased risk for influenza-related hospitalization, influenza vaccination of healthy children aged 6-23 months is encouraged when feasible.

And anyone who wants to lower their chances of getting the flu (the shot can be administered to children as young as 6 months) can get a flu shot. Persons who provide essential community services (such as police, firemen, etc.) should consider getting a flu shot to minimize disruption of essential activities during flu outbreaks. Students or others in institutional settings (those who reside in dormitories) should be encouraged to get a flu shot.


Since people with the flu can give it to other people, to help prevent flu among people at high risk for complications, household members (including children) of people in high-risk groups should also get a flu shot. So if your child has asthma, he should get a flu shot, but so should your other children to decrease even further his chance of getting the flu. Or if you have a infant less then 6 months of age at home, who can't get a flu shot, other family members could be vaccinated to protect your baby.

One thing to keep in mind is that although thimerosal has been removed from all routinely recommended childhood vaccines, the flu vaccine does still contain thimerosal. This is not necessarily a reason to not get your child immunized though, especially if he is in a high risk group. And supposedly, a limited amount of influenza vaccine with reduced thimerosal content will be available for the 2002--2003 influenza season. According to the CDC, 'the benefit of influenza vaccine with reduced or standard thimerosal content outweighs the theoretical risk, if any, from thimerosal.'

Also, some people should not get a flu shot without talking to their doctor, including:

People who are have a severe allergy to hens’ eggs
People who have had a severe reaction to a flu shot in the past
People who previously developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in the 6 weeks after getting a flu shot
children aged <6 months