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Flu Protection Sought for More Kids School-age children need the vaccine, too Bring your teens and 'tweens along with your toddlers when you get them the flu vaccine this fall. New guidelines say all kids 6 months to 18 years old should have the flu vaccine. The old advice only covered kids 6 to 59 months old. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), made the recommendation in February. "Children 6 months to 18 years of age should start receiving the flu vaccine this season," says Douglas Kwock, M.D., pediatric infectious disease specialist. "There will be an additional 30 million children to vaccinate this season." A study done for the CDC showed that immunizing kids 6 to 23 months old cut hospital stays from flu complications more than 75 percent in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 flu seasons. "It's important to give your child the flu vaccine to protect against flu infection and potential flu complications, including secondary bacterial infection," says Dr. Kwock. Douglas Kwock, M.D. Currently, only 20 to 30 percent of children get the flu vaccine. The more children who are vaccinated against the flu, the greater the protection for anyone they come in contact with. Kids have lower immunity and spread the flu more easily, he says. Does your young child hate shots? Here's some good news. Healthy kids 2 to 4 years old can now get the flu vaccine by nose. "The nasal flu vaccine can be administered to children 2 years to 18 years of age who are in good health," Dr. Kwock says. "Children with asthma or children less than 5 years of age with recurrent wheezing should consult their doctor before receiving the nasal flu vaccine."