Pediatricians Sandra Robinson, MD, and Corey Hebert, MD, who both practice at DePaul Community Health Centers’ Prytania location, believe it is vitally important for children ages 12 months to three years to receive the flu vaccine annually. Per the CDC, children younger than five years old–especially those younger than two–are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications.
Children of any age with certain chronic health conditions are also at higher risk. During the 2021-2022 flu season, 65 percent of children zero to 17 years old who were hospitalized with flu had at least one underlying health condition, such as asthma, neurologic disease, obesity, or immune suppression.
While not at higher risk, children five years and older can spread flu to their higher risk family members, like infants younger than six months old and adults who are 65 years and older or people of any age who have certain chronic health conditions.
Every child from 12 months to three years old who receives a flu shot at any DCHC site will receive free goodie bags, while supplies last.
Shown here are, left to right, DCHC’s Jennifer Frizzell, vice president for population health, Robinson, and Hebert.