A Key to Slowing the Flu Bug: Making Sure Kids Get Their Vaccinations

Flu immunizations are not only important for elders and the chronically ill but also for children, who are frequently responsible for spreading the virus, says Dr. Octavio Ramilo, associate professor of pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

"By focusing on school-age kids, we can have a tremendous impact in the community," says Ramilo, an infectious diseases specialist. "We need to make a huge effort to immunize everybody over six months of age."

Kids spread the virus because they may not always remember to wash their hands after sneezing or coming in contact with a sick playmate, and they tend to have closer physical contact with other people than adults, who often are more mindful of personal space. Kids who become sick with the flu expose infant siblings, elderly relatives and others at high risk of getting the virus.

Source: UT Southwestern Medical Center