HARTFORD — If you have three or a four-year-old children, time is running short for you to get them flu shots.
The deadline is Dec. 31, and the Department of Health says it’s a requirement. If they don’t get flu shots by the 31st, then they must be kept home from school for the duration of flu season (through March 31), unless they get the shot.
DPH says that an average of 20,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized because of flu complication, and the requirement is to help reduce the risk. The American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend routine annual flu vaccinations for children older than 6 months.
DPH goes on to say that, by law, children aged 6 months to 4 years who attended a licensed child-care program and/or school must get their vaccines. They say that if the majority of children immunized between September and December, they and school officials will be able to better track any issues arising from the illness.
But, there are exceptions to the pre-k rule, including children with certain medical conditions and religions that don’t permit vaccines.
