Flu, or influenza, is caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu usually spreads through the air from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.

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Unlike the common cold, the flu causes severe illness and can be life threatening, Each year, more than 114,000 Americans are hospitalized because of the flu, and more than 36,000 die from complications of the flu.

Influenza and its complications are the sixth-leading cause of death among children 4 years old and younger, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Some children are at high risk of having complications from the flu. Flu could make them very sick or even kill them. The following children should be vaccinated each year to prevent the flu:

Infants 6 to 23 months of age

Children 24 months to 18 years of age with chronic health problems like:

asthma or other problems of the lungs
immune suppression
chronic kidney disease
heart disease
HIV/AIDS
diabetes
sickle cell anemia

Children 6 months to 18 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy

Children under 6 months old can also get very sick from the flu. But they are too young to get flu vaccine. The best way to protect them is to make sure that you, their family members, and their caregivers are vaccinated.

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Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention