Should children get flu vaccinations?

Pediatrician Lawrence Kagan, MD, shares advice for parents on how flu vaccinations are safe for children and why he recommends parents get flu vaccinations for their children
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Should children get flu vaccinations?

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I think flu vaccines are good and they are safe. I think getting influenza, for anybody that has had it, we all know that it is an absolutely terrible experience. Anybody that has watched their child be sick to any degree, that's painful for the child and for the parents. I encourage people to get the influenza vaccine. It is not mandatory in my practice. I don't force anybody to do anything in my practice. I like for parents to make informed decisions for themselves. I think if you are under 2 years of age, over 65, or if you have another medical problem, getting an influenza vaccine is very important. I think that if you are not among those groups, it is optional. I warn you that influenza can be a very bad experience for a child. Every once in a while, a child will experience a very serious complication. It is a very safe thing to do. I suggest you do it, but I think it's up to the parents.

Pediatrician Lawrence Kagan, MD, shares advice for parents on how flu vaccinations are safe for children and why he recommends parents get flu vaccinations for their children

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Lawrence Kagan, MD

Pediatrician

Lawrence Kagan, MD, FAAP, is a UCLA honors graduate, with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. He received medical training at USC Keck School of Medicine, and completed his internship and residency in Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. In addition to passionately studying neonatal, general pediatric and adolescent medicine at CHLA, he had the opportunity to train under some of the greatest minds in subspecialty pediatrics, diagnosing and managing the rarest and most complicated childhood ailments. Prior to opening Westside Pediatrics, he worked as an attending physician at the CHLA Emergency Department as well as at Cedars Sinai Urgent Care. Dr. Kagan is a native of Los Angeles and is happily married with two children.

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Transcription: 
I think flu vaccines are good and they are safe. I think getting influenza, for anybody that has had it, we all know that it is an absolutely terrible experience. Anybody that has watched their child be sick to any degree, that's painful for the child and for the parents. I encourage people to get the influenza vaccine. It is not mandatory in my practice. I don't force anybody to do anything in my practice. I like for parents to make informed decisions for themselves. I think if you are under 2 years of age, over 65, or if you have another medical problem, getting an influenza vaccine is very important. I think that if you are not among those groups, it is optional. I warn you that influenza can be a very bad experience for a child. Every once in a while, a child will experience a very serious complication. It is a very safe thing to do. I suggest you do it, but I think it's up to the parents.