Flu shot for kids: a 2026–27 guide by age, from babies to teens

Short answer

A flu shot for kids is recommended every year for every child 6 months and older without a medical reason to skip it. That is the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) 2026–27 policy (1), and, as of October 2026, CDC's 2026–27 guidance keeps routine annual vaccination from the July 2025 schedule in effect (3). Babies under 6 months can't be vaccinated; vaccination during pregnancy and vaccinated caregivers protect them (4).

Children 6 months through 8 years who have never had a flu vaccine, or had only one dose before July 1, 2026, need two doses four weeks apart; everyone else needs one (2). Aim to finish by the end of October, but vaccination helps for as long as flu circulates (3). From age 2, most children can have a nasal spray instead.

Why bother if most kids get through flu fine? Because the children who don't are often healthy. In 2024–25, 44% of children who died with flu and had a known medical history had no underlying condition, and 89% of eligible children with known status weren't fully vaccinated (9).

If you are hesitating, that is not a moral failing. US guidance on childhood vaccines changed and was challenged in court in 2025–26, and parents heard mixed messages. Your child's pediatrician or pharmacist decides what fits your child.

Note: this article explains what guidelines and research say and is not medical advice. Call 911 for trouble breathing, bluish lips, a seizure, or a severe allergic reaction after a shot (hives, swelling of the face or throat, wheezing). Dehydration, a fever above 104°F that medicine doesn't control, any fever in a baby under 12 weeks, or a fever or cough that improves then returns worse are CDC emergency warning signs that need care right away (25).

Should kids get the flu shot? What AAP and CDC say for 2026–27

Yes, according to both. The AAP recommends any licensed vaccine appropriate for the child's age and health and states that it "does not prefer one product over another" (1, 21-flu-prevention-recommendations-for-2026-27.aspx)), and CDC's 2026–27 considerations keep routine annual vaccination in effect (3).

How we got here. A decision memo approved by the Acting CDC Director on January 5, 2026 moved childhood flu vaccination from a recommendation for all children to "shared clinical decision-making." On March 16, 2026, the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts (American Academy of Pediatrics v. Kennedy) stayed the 2026 childhood schedule, the appointments of 13 ACIP members and their votes at 2025 meetings (5). By late April 2026, CDC had restored the July 2, 2025 schedules, which put the routine influenza recommendation back in effect (6). The government appealed on April 29, 2026 (First Circuit No. 26-1503) (14); the court heard arguments on October 6, 2026 and had not ruled as of October 10, 2026 (7). This status may change; the AAP recommendation stands as published either way.

Only 49.4% of US children aged 6 months to 17 years had a flu vaccine for 2025–26 by mid-May 2026; vaccines are expected to be covered by commercial insurance and the Vaccines for Children program as usual (21-flu-prevention-recommendations-for-2026-27.aspx)).

Flu vaccine for kids by age: the quick table

Flu shot for babies and infants under 6 months

Babies younger than 6 months can't get a flu shot; no flu vaccine is approved for them (4). CDC counts children under 5, especially under 2, as higher risk and estimates 6,000 to 25,000 flu hospitalizations a year in children under 5 (12).

When can a baby get a flu shot?

At 6 months. A baby who turns 6 months during flu season can start then, with two doses four weeks apart that first season (2).

Flu shot in pregnancy: protection that starts before birth

Vaccination during pregnancy is the best-studied way to protect a newborn. In a randomized trial in Bangladesh, babies of mothers vaccinated in pregnancy had 63% fewer laboratory-confirmed flu cases in their first 24 weeks (18). In a Utah cohort of nearly 250,000 infants, maternal vaccination was linked to 70% lower risk of confirmed flu and 81% lower risk of flu hospitalization in the first six months; as an observational study, it can't rule out other differences between families (19).

ACIP says the shot (not the nasal spray) can be given in any trimester, and vaccination in July or August can be considered in the third trimester so the baby is born protected (4). ACOG's 2026–27 guidance keeps flu vaccination part of prenatal and postpartum care; its lead author noted that antibodies in breast milk don't give the full benefit of those passed through the placenta (20). If you are still planning, see the 90-day preconception window. Questions about your own vaccination belong with your obstetric clinician.

Cocooning and breastfeeding

CDC recommends yearly vaccination for children's caregivers, partly to protect infants under 6 months (12): parents, siblings, grandparents, babysitters. The AAP adds that vaccinating a breastfeeding parent protects parent and baby and is safe (21-flu-prevention-recommendations-for-2026-27.aspx)). (See also: when adults should get a flu shot.)

Red flag: any fever in a baby younger than 12 weeks is a CDC emergency warning sign; seek care right away (25).

Flu shot for toddlers and babies 6 to 23 months

Every child in this group is recommended a shot, two doses four weeks apart in the first season (2). The nasal spray isn't approved under 2 (3).

Common reactions: soreness, redness or swelling where the shot went in, fever, aches, headache and tiredness (23).

Febrile seizures. CDC reports a small increased risk when the flu shot is given at the same visit as PCV13 (pneumococcal) or DTaP vaccine, and none when it is given on a different day; the risk with any combination is "at most 30 febrile seizures in 100,000 children vaccinated," and ACIP still encourages same-visit vaccination (22). Up to 5% of young children have a febrile seizure at some point, mostly with ordinary fevers, and these seizures cause no permanent harm (22). If timing worries you, ask your pediatrician whether spacing makes sense; they decide.

Red flags: a seizure means 911; trouble breathing, bluish lips or a child who isn't alert when awake needs care right away (25).

Flu shot side effects in toddlers: how long do they last?

Usually one to two days (24). Call the pediatrician if a reaction is getting worse after that or for a high fever.

Flu vaccine for kids 2 to 4 years: shot or nasal spray

From the second birthday, children can have the shot or the nasal spray unless a contraindication applies (3); the two-dose rule for first-timers still applies.

The usual reason a 2- to 4-year-old can't have the spray is breathing: ACIP rules it out after an asthma diagnosis or wheezing noted by a clinician in the past 12 months (4). Children with asthma are also at higher risk from flu (12), so the shot is the usual route. Your pediatrician decides.

Ages 5 to 8: does my child need 2 flu shots?

Only if your child has never had a flu vaccine, had only one dose ever before July 1, 2026, or has no record: then two doses at least four weeks apart (2). Two or more doses at any point before July 1, even years ago, means one dose this season (3). An 8-year-old who turns 9 between doses still gets both (4). Bring the vaccination record; without it, the default is two doses.

From age 5, asthma is a precaution rather than a contraindication for the spray (4).

Ages 9 to 12 and teens 13 to 17: one dose a year

From age 9, every child needs one dose each season, whatever their history (4). The spray isn't used with aspirin or salicylate therapy, because of the risk of Reye syndrome (4).

Older children aren't out of the risk zone: the median age of children who died with flu in 2024–25 was 7, with the middle half aged 2 to 11 (9). Teens with asthma, diabetes, heart or neurologic disease, or obesity are in CDC's higher-risk group (12).

Nasal flu vaccine (FluMist): who can get it, and is it as effective as the shot?

The nasal flu vaccine contains live viruses weakened so they don't cause illness (24), and it is approved for ages 2 through 49 (3).

Who should not get the spray (3, 4): children under 2; children 2–4 with asthma or wheezing in the past 12 months; children on aspirin or salicylates; anyone immunocompromised, and caregivers of severely immunocompromised people who need a protected environment; pregnancy; a cerebrospinal fluid leak or cochlear implant; a recent flu antiviral (the window depends on the drug); a severe allergic reaction to a previous flu vaccine or a component.

Precautions the clinician weighs: moderate or severe illness, asthma from age 5, other chronic conditions that raise flu risk, and Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of a previous flu vaccine (4).

Spray side effects can include runny nose, wheezing, headache, vomiting, muscle aches, fever, sore throat and cough, usually mild and short-lived (24).

Is FluMist as effective as the shot?

Neither the AAP's 2026–27 policy nor ACIP prefers one over the other for children (1, 4). ACIP dropped the spray for 2016–17 and 2017–18 after US data showed "low to no significant effectiveness" against H1N1, then restored it for 2018–19 after the H1N1 strain was changed; the same review found it generally effective against influenza B and similar to the shot against H3N2 (27). In Cochrane's pooled randomized trials, which compared each vaccine with placebo rather than with each other, the spray cut confirmed flu in children 3–16 from 18% to 4% over a season and the shot cut it in children 2–16 from 30% to 11% (16).

Can I give FluMist at home?

Often, yes. FDA approved caregiver administration to children 2–17 through the FluMist Home program, which screens eligibility; the same contraindications apply (3). As of October 2026, the manufacturer's site lists delivery to the 48 mainland states and DC, with extra doctor review in some states (26); availability can change during the season, and children covered by Vaccines for Children may need a clinic instead (28).

When should kids get the flu shot?

Ideally by the end of October; the AAP advises vaccinating as soon as vaccine is available (2). Children who need two doses should start as early as possible, even in July or August, so the second dose lands by the end of October (3). For one-dose children, ACIP says July or August "can be considered" (4).

Is waning a concern for kids? Somewhat, but it is less studied than in adults. In a large Kaiser Permanente study, the odds of testing positive for flu rose about 16% for each additional 28 days after vaccination (17). ACIP notes waning in all age groups, varying by season and virus, with fewer studies in children, and advises against July–August vaccination mainly for older adults (4). September or October balances waning against the risk of missing the window.

What if flu season is already under way?

Vaccinate anyway. CDC says vaccination should continue while flu viruses circulate (3); seasons usually peak December to March and can run into May (24). Protection takes about two weeks (12). A first-timer should still start, with the second dose four weeks later.

If your child gets suspected flu, the AAP recommends antiviral treatment for children with suspected or confirmed flu who are hospitalized, have severe or worsening illness, or are at high risk of complications, and treats it as an option for other children seen early in the illness (1, 21-flu-prevention-recommendations-for-2026-27.aspx)). Antivirals don't replace the vaccine (2). Talk to your child's doctor; they decide whether treatment fits.

Is the flu shot safe for kids? Side effects, allergies and thimerosal

According to CDC's safety monitoring, yes for almost all children: most side effects are mild and go away on their own within a few days (23). The rare risks are documented: (See also: what to expect after other childhood vaccines.)

• Severe allergic reactions are very rare and usually appear within minutes to hours (24). Hives, facial or throat swelling, wheezing or trouble breathing after a shot means calling 911.

• Guillain-Barré syndrome: in seasons with an increased risk, 1 to 2 extra cases per million doses; GBS is more likely after flu itself (23).

• Febrile seizures at 6–23 months with PCV13 or DTaP the same day: at most 30 per 100,000 (22).

• Narcolepsy was associated with one brand of 2009 pandemic vaccine, not a seasonal product (16); CDC found no association with US-licensed H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccines (23). Cochrane also notes harms were poorly reported across trials (16).

Egg allergy. Children with egg allergy can get any age-appropriate flu vaccine with no extra precautions, "regardless of severity of previous reaction to egg" (4, 3).

Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative used only in multidose vials. CDC says it has been used safely since the 1930s, research shows no link to autism, and parents can ask for a thimerosal-free flu vaccine (11). In June 2025 ACIP voted for single-dose, thimerosal-free flu vaccines for children, pregnant women and adults, and HHS adopted it on July 23, 2025 (10). The March 2026 court order stayed that committee's votes at its 2025 meetings (5); how this plays out for vaccine supply is not settled as of October 2026. Either way, if it matters to you, ask your child's doctor or pharmacist for a thimerosal-free single-dose syringe.

Myths and facts about the flu vaccine for children

"My child is healthy and probably won't catch flu anyway"

Maybe not this year, but healthy children are not exempt. CDC rated 2024–25 high-severity for every age group, and 290 flu-associated pediatric deaths were reported to CDC for that season as of February 14, 2026, the highest number reported since the 2009 pandemic (8). Among those with a known history, 44% had no underlying condition (9). CDC also gathered 109 cases of flu-associated encephalopathy, a brain complication: 55% of these children were previously healthy, 19% died, and only 16% of the eligible ones had been vaccinated (13).

"The flu shot gives kids the flu"

It can't. Shots contain inactivated virus or a single protein, and the spray's live virus is weakened so it won't cause illness (24). In four trials, fever after the spray ranged from 0.16% to 15% in vaccinated children and 0.71% to 22% with placebo, which Cochrane rates as very low-certainty evidence (16). Another virus going around is a common reason a child gets sick soon after a shot (24).

"My child got the shot while already coming down with flu"

Then the vaccine couldn't prevent that infection; it isn't a treatment. CDC explains that exposure shortly before vaccination, or in the two weeks protection takes to build, can lead to flu (24). Treat it as flu: watch the warning signs and call your pediatrician, especially for a child under 5 or with a chronic condition (1). If your child had the spray and starts a flu antiviral within two weeks, ACIP advises revaccinating with a shot (4).

"The vaccine doesn't work well enough to bother"

It works partly, and it varies by season. In interim 2024–25 estimates, effectiveness in children was 32% to 60% against outpatient flu and 63% to 78% against hospitalization (15). In 2025–26, a drifted H3N2 strain (subclade K) differed from the vaccine, and effectiveness in children was 38% to 41% against outpatient flu in the two networks with significant estimates and 41% against hospitalization in one (29). Against death, a CDC study of 2016–2025 estimated 80% effectiveness: 77% in children with underlying conditions and 87% without (30). These are observational estimates; Cochrane notes few trials under age 2 and no hospitalization data in the trials it pooled (16).

Can kids get a flu shot when sick?

Yes, if the illness is mild. The AAP says children with mild illness, including low-grade fever, can be vaccinated, and those with moderate or severe illness as soon as they improve (2); CDC lists moderate or severe illness as a general precaution (3). A mild cold is not a reason to cancel.

For the spray, if congestion could stop the vaccine reaching the nasal lining, ACIP suggests waiting or giving a shot instead (4). The nurse or pharmacist decides on the day.

Flu shots for kids around the world: US, UK and WHO compared

The UK gives healthy children one dose, mostly nasal, through nurseries and schools, and offers a gelatine-free injection because the spray contains pork gelatine (31). WHO's 2022 position paper names health workers, people with underlying conditions, older adults and pregnant people as priority groups, calls children "an important target group" and leaves it to countries whether to prioritize them (33).

Flu vaccines for kids: the questions people ask next

How long after a flu shot can my child go to daycare?

Right away; there is no waiting period. For the nasal spray, ACIP's only contact advice is for health care workers and hospital visitors, who should avoid severely immunocompromised patients in a protected environment for 7 days (4). If your child has a fever afterward, your daycare's usual fever policy applies. Protection takes about two weeks to build (12), so a child vaccinated today can still catch flu next week.

Can kids get the flu and COVID vaccine at the same time?

Yes. The AAP says flu vaccine can be given with COVID-19 vaccine or at any time before or after it, and with other vaccines, with injections at least an inch apart (2). For children 6 to 23 months, the documented trade-off is the small febrile-seizure risk when the flu shot is given with PCV13 or DTaP (22). Fewer visits can mean fewer missed doses; your pediatrician can help you weigh it.

My child is terrified of needles. What are the options?

From age 2, the nasal spray is an equal option if nothing on the contraindication list applies (1, 3). Sniffing isn't needed, and a sneeze afterward doesn't mean the dose is repeated (4). If a shot is needed, tell the clinic in advance so staff can plan for an anxious child. For a child with asthma or wheezing, ask the clinician about the spray first.

My child got the flu after the flu shot. Was it pointless?

Not necessarily. CDC explains that vaccinated people can still get flu, from exposure before protection builds, a strain unlike the vaccine, or partial protection, and that several studies show vaccination reduces illness severity in those who still get sick (24). In 2024–25, 89% of eligible children who died with flu and had a known status weren't fully vaccinated (9). Protection fades and viruses change, so CDC recommends a new vaccine every year (24).

I keep catching every bug my kids bring home. What can I do for myself?

Get vaccinated too: CDC's recommendation covers everyone 6 months and older, and a vaccinated household helps protect babies (12). Exposure, sleep and stress all play a part. Why do I keep getting sick? covers the usual causes and when repeated infections are worth a doctor's check, and if you are fighting a cold yourself, working out while sick explains when to skip exercise and how to come back.

When to seek care: before and after your child's flu shot

Call 911 for a severe allergic reaction after vaccination (hives, facial or throat swelling, wheezing, trouble breathing), a seizure, or trouble breathing or bluish lips during flu (24, 25).

Get care right away for CDC's other warning signs: fast breathing or ribs pulling in, chest pain, severe muscle pain (refusing to walk), dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears), not alert when awake, fever above 104°F not controlled by medicine, any fever under 12 weeks, fever or cough that improves then returns worse, or a chronic condition getting worse (25).

Call your pediatrician if a vaccine reaction is getting worse after a couple of days, or if a child under 5 or with a chronic condition has flu symptoms.

What to bring. The vaccination record (it decides one dose or two) and a short list: allergies, including any reaction to a previous flu vaccine; asthma or wheezing in the past year; anything weakening immunity in your child or at home; aspirin therapy; recent flu antivirals; a cochlear implant.

What to ask.

• "Does my child need one dose or two this season?"

• "Is the nasal spray suitable, or should we use the shot?"

• "Is a single-dose syringe available?"

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How Welltory helps — and what it cannot do

The limits first. Welltory is a general wellness product, not a medical device. It does not diagnose, detect, predict, monitor, prevent, treat or mitigate any condition, including flu or vaccine reactions. It is not for tracking children, and nothing in it tells you whether your child needs a vaccine or a doctor. This section is about you, the parent getting through sick season.

You note what happened; the app records the rest. When the Today screen marks a stress or rest stretch, it asks "What happened?" or "What helped you rest?" Tap a suggested tag, type or just talk: "up with sick kid," "flu shot day," "daycare closed." Welltory picks out the tags, and you can correct them before saving.

Look at your nights against your own history. Sleep analysis, stress minutes, Battery, resting heart rate and HRV are recorded the same way every day (Battery and stress minutes need iOS with an Apple Watch or Oura; detailed sleep analysis needs an Apple Watch). Set a week of interrupted nights beside your usual ones: your numbers next to your own history, not a population range and not a line marked normal.

After a few weeks of tagging, My Patterns has something to work with. My Patterns collects tags from stress and rest stretches, so it needs iOS with an Apple Watch or Oura; patterns start to appear at around seven tagged events. It shows which tagged situations come with stressful stretches, trends by day of week and every time a tag occurred.

A record for your own appointment. The Journal keeps your measurements and tags; you can download a CSV file or share your web-app dashboard with your doctor through a link you can revoke. If months of sick-season sleep loss are wearing you down, dated notes beat memory. Any pattern is an association to discuss, not a cause and not a verdict.

The same red flags apply here, in the same type size: a severe allergic reaction after a shot, a seizure, trouble breathing or bluish lips means 911; dehydration, a fever above 104°F not controlled by medicine, any fever in a baby under 12 weeks, or symptoms that improve then return worse mean care right away (25).

How we made it

Made with AI tools, then edited and fact-checked by the Welltory team. See our Editorial & AI policy.

Data analysis by Jane Smorodnikova, co-founder of Welltory and the person who built the methodology behind how we read physiological data.

Written by Tatsiana Yashyna.

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