Gun down swine flu with two shots (and a squirt of soap)
Children under 10 may need two H1N1 Swine Flu Shots, reports WebMD.
The problem? While the vaccine works just as well for older children as adults, a single dose of the vaccine protects only 36% of 3- to 9-year-olds, and only 25% of children age 6 months to 35 months.
Cutie Pie by Happy Snapper
“These two younger groups may require two doses of the vaccine,” National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci, MD, said in a news conference reported by WebMD.
Don’t get overly alarmed.
“This is not an unexpected finding and is quite similar to what we see with seasonal flu vaccine,” he said.
The next best way to avoid swine flu is washing your hands.
In its latest advice to parents, Flu.gov says:
- Encourage healthy hygiene in your home. Remind your kids to wash their hands and to cover their mouths with a tissue or shirt sleeve when they cough. Also, encourage them not to share drinks or eating utensils with their friends. For more guidance on hygiene tips for flu prevention, visit www.cdc.gov/cleanhands and http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/covercough.htm.
- Make an effort to keep your kids’ play areas and toys clean. Use sanitizing wipes to wipe down toys, video games, and the computer. Visit http://nrckids.org
for more information on cleaning in early childhood settings.
For example, I noticed the Newseum in DC (the newseum of news, which is probably one of the best and most moving museums) is encouraging visitors to avoid spreading germs by providing a little tissue box near the door with a sign asking people to use the tissues to open the door.
What are you doing at home? We’re trying to stop the flow of germs from school to home and vice versa by making sure the kids wash their hands when they get home from school, friends’ places, childcare, etc. And we nag them to wash their hands (after they’ve cleaned their teeth) as they leave for school
How can you protect your family and yourself from disruptions to work? Check out Flu.gov for loads of tips, FAQs, etc.
And we’ve put together a Moms Guide to Swine Flu: 16 places to get answers.
You can also follow Flu.gov on Twitter.
Photo credit: Cutie Pie by Happy Snapper courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons.
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Filed Under: Featured • Working Moms Resources
About the Author: Julie Power is a writer and editor with experience in both the United States and Australia. After living in the United States for 16 years, she recently returned to live in Sydney with her husband and twin boys (9 years old).
Follow @juliepower
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