At first glance, mothers appear to be worrywarts, worrying about every little thing, be it safety, studies, and of course, health.

Given the current situation, health worries have come to the forefront.

Despite the current fears over COVID-19, a fear largely brought about by our helplessness at not being able to protect our littles ones through vaccination, let us not forget another scourge of childhood, influenza.

Influenza, you say? Isn’t that a disease of temperate climate? Is it really a problem here?

Sadly, the sudden increase in flu cases at the end of 2019 and early 2020 bears testament that influenza does indeed exist, and infect children and adults alike in Malaysia.

Fast Facts about the Flu

While everyone is advised to take the influenza vaccine annually, it is even more so for those in the high risk category.

This includes children between the ages of 6 months to 5 years, and those with chronic illnesses, such as congenital heart disease, asthma, and chronic lung disease as a result of prematurity.

This is because these groups have a higher risk of getting complications[i].

The vaccine has to be administered annually as the strains are constantly changing.

If it’s your little one’s first Ame to take the vaccine, they will require 2 doses, a month apart. Thereafter, like everyone else, they only need to take it once every year.

Earlier this year, some parents found it difficult to get the influenza vaccines for their children due to stocks running out.

Thankfully, stocks are in, says Consultant Paediatrician Dr Yong Junina Fadzil, so it’s a great time to make an appointment.

“The best way to protect a child from flu is to vaccinate them once they are 6 months of age or older. Below the age of 6 months, parents should practise cocoon protection by vaccinating the other family members and not taking the baby out to malls or gatherings as we cannot be sure if anyone in the crowd is unwell,” she said.

Spot the Difference

It’s not easy to tell the differences between a common cold, flu and COVID-19 but here’s a handy reference between the first two illnesses.[ii]

According to Dr Yong, COVID-19, being a newly discovered infection, does not have a definite pattern and children may have very mild symptoms or none at all in the early stages.

Here’s What You Can Do

Now that you know the facts, remember to do your part to protect your children and prevent the spread of flu!

Although we are all concerned about COVID-19 now, remember that flu vaccinations are still important.

While experts are still uncovering details about COVID-19, we now know that it is spread through droplets of infected individuals.

However, we do know that influenza spreads very easily, and may cause complications, or even be fatal, for those in the high risk categories.

The recommended practice of frequent hand washing and social distancing is not only limited to reducing the spread of COVID-19, but also other airborne- and droplet-borne infections.

While we await the production of a vaccine against COVID-19, let us not forget to vaccinate our children against other diseases, such as influenza.

To learn more about flu prevention as an act of love for your family, please visit www.actoflove.ifl.my.

[i] US Centres for Disease Control. Children & Influenza, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/children.htm. Accessed 12 May 2020.

[ii] MedicineNet. What are the differences and similarities between the common cold, flu, and COVID-19 (2019 novel coronavirus)?, https://www.medicinenet.com/covid-19_vs_flu_vs_cold/article.htm. Accessed 12 May 2020.