Sniffle Solutions

The short answer: Yes. There are multiple strains of the flu vaccine, and many of them change over time. So each year, public health experts crunch the data and make educated guesses as to which flu strains will be the most common that season. That’s how they develop the immunization.

So there is a chance that your child can catch a strain of the flu that wasn’t included in the shot. Typically, the vaccine is effective, but there have been years when it’s missed the mark and protected against about half of the predominant flu bugs.

What’s more, the vaccine takes about two weeks to build full immunization. So if your child was exposed to the virus during that time, there’s a chance he could come down with the flu.

It’s important to note as well that many parents tend to mistake a respiratory infection for the flu. The symptoms of the flu, however, tend to be more severe: Kids can suffer from high temperatures (at least 100.4 F), body aches and gastrointestinal problems. If you suspect that your child has the flu, check in with your pediatrician.

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