At 18 months, most people might assume Jacob Glen is just too young to get a flu shot.
But this year, a statewide push is under way to get the message out: babies and toddlers from 6 to 23 months old should be immunized.
Hospitalizations from flu are as common with babies and toddlers as they are with the elderly, said Cindy Gleason, who works in the state Health Department’s immunization program.
"Death is not as frequent with young children as the elderly, but the hospitalization rate is just as high," she said.
That’s why Heidi Glen, a pharmacy manager at Valley General Hospital in Monroe wanted to be sure her young son Jason got the shot.
"The risk to very young children catching the wintertime bug is their bodies can’t handle being dehydrated," she explained.
"Definitely get the flu shot," she advised. "It’s just another way to protect your child."
If it’s the first time a child 6 months to 23 months has received the flu shot, they’ll need two shots one month apart, Gleason said.
"That’s why we’re encouraging them to get it now. They need that time to get the second shot before they have good immunity."
Because flu is a common disease and because other viruses mimic some of its symptoms, some people may not think of it as a serious illness.
"They think it’s a rite of passage, everyone gets it," Gleason said. "When you actually get the flu, you’re very sick, with respiratory symptoms, fever and you can’t hardly get out of bed."
Healthy people get over it, but "the very young or the very old have a very hard time with it," she said.
Influenza is the most frequent cause of death from a disease that can be prevented with a vaccine.
Over the past decade, an average of 36,000 influenza-associated deaths occurred nationally during each flu season, according to the American Lung Association. And an estimated 114,000 people were hospitalized each year.
After two consecutive years of shortages in 2000 and 2001 that delayed the kickoff of flu shot campaigns, there’s no problem with flu vaccine supply this year. The shots are available at area medical clinics and many pharmacies.
The Snohomish Health District has ordered 6,000 doses, about the same as last year, and The Everett Clinic has ordered 20,000 doses, up from 17,000 doses last year.
While extra effort is put into ensuring that those most at risk for serious complications from the flu, such as the very young, the elderly and anyone with immune system problems gets the shot, any health adult who wants to avoid the flu should consider getting the shot, Gleason said.
Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
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