Protect Community With a Flu Shot

Hi, parents! We are always on the move as parents, and even at home it can feel like we never stop. This time of year, though, it’s important to make time for this one thing: Flu shots. 

There are many reasons flu shots are important and beneficial for you and your child.

What’s the Big Deal?

You might be thinking that you never seem to get the flu, so what’s the big deal? Young, healthy adults might be able to fight off the flu without complications. However, our kiddos are not in the same boat.

 Children ages five and younger are at higher risk of developing complications from the flu, such as progressing into pneumonia.

Doctor’s Advice

Remember to speak to your doctor before receiving a flu shot if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it or if you have concerns about other health conditions or potential reactions.

Vulnerable Groups

The flu can be dangerous for our older friends and family members, as well as those with compromised immune systems.

 We love our baby’s grandparents and wouldn’t want to do anything to cause them any harm.

Adults ages 65 and older account for a majority of each year's flu-related hospitalizations and deaths.

 We can do our part by getting ourselves and our little ones vaccinated. 

Your older family members won’t need to feel anxious about agreeing to watch the kids knowing that they have been vaccinated. (And we, the parents, can have a night out!)

Even younger, healthy adults can develop flu-related complications. When parents get flu shots for themselves and their young ones they reduce their own risk for contracting the flu. Or they are likely to have less severe cases. 

Caring for Our Communities

Taking the time to get flu shots for yourself and your kiddo also is an opportunity to lead by example. Our kiddos look up to us in everything we do.

You can use the outing to your local pharmacy or flu clinic to express how getting your flu shot is a way of showing you care for your community by protecting vulnerable populations. 

As we parents, we run errands, pick up and drop off our children, and we are coming into contact with so many community members that we don’t know. We don’t know who might be  immunocompromised. 

Let’s Do Our Part

It can be hard to make time to do just about anything when you’ve got young kids, but this is a priority. Let’s do our part to help keep our communities safe, while also teaching our little ones how individual actions can affect so many others, even if just by accident.

 The CDC recommends everyone six months and older be vaccinated for the flu, unless allergies or health concerns prevent it.

Have you been vaccinated yet this year? 

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is a 3½-year-old preschooler.

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Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.orgor call us at 929.228.1180.