Information for Parents

All people from 6 months through 24 years of age are a priority group for the H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available to the public in the fall. Getting your child vaccinated as soon as possible is the best method for protecting him or her from the flu.

• There are separate vaccines for seasonal flu and H1N1.
• You should have your children vaccinated for seasonal flu now.
• You should be certain to also have your children vaccinated against the H1N1 virus when that vaccine becomes available later this fall.  The seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to protect your children against the H1N1 virus.
• Flu vaccine will be available in different settings, such as vaccination clinics, healthcare provider offices, and other private settings, such as pharmacies and workplaces.

What to Do If Your Child Gets Sick

• If your child has a fever, use fever-reducing medicines that your doctor recommends based on your child’s age.
• A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). If you are not able to measure a temperature, the child might have a fever if he or she feels warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering.
• Keep your sick child at home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone, except to get medical care.
• Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants, Pedialyte®) to keep from being dehydrated.
• Keep your sick child in a separate room in the house as much as possible to limit contact with household members who are not sick.
• Consider having just one person be the main caregiver for the sick child.
• You can consider sending your child back to school after at least 24 hours has passed since his or her temperature returned to normal WITHOUT the use of medications.
• Children younger than 5 years old and children with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma and diabetes, may be at higher risk for complications from flu. Check with your doctor about any special treatment requirements for them.

When to Get Emergency Medical Care

If your child has any of these signs, seek emergency medical care right away:

• fast breathing or trouble breathing
• bluish or gray skin color
• not drinking enough fluids
• severe or persistent vomiting
• not urinating or no tears when crying
• not waking up or not interacting
• being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Talking To Children About H1N1

Educate yourself first.  Know the basic facts about H1N1—the symptoms, how it spreads, and how you can help protect yourself and your child from getting sick. Consider following some of these helpful tips:

• Share information about H1N1 in a calm, reassuring manner. Be careful not to worry children.
• Limit their exposure to media and adult conversations about H1N1.
• If your children are watching television, try to watch with them or make sure you are available to answer questions about H1N1.
• Use their questions as an opportunity to talk about what they can do to avoid getting H1N1 flu.
• Keep activities as consistent and normal as possible even if your normal routine changes (due to daycare or school closures).
• Be a good example. Show children that you wash your hands frequently with soap and water.  When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth or use a tissue then throw the tissue away.

Prepare for the Flu during the 2009-2010 School Year

Before you are faced with a sudden school dismissal or a sick child, find out what your employer’s procedures are for working from home while you care for children out of school, or sick family or household members.

• If working from home is not possible, plan ahead for child care at home if your child gets sick or their school is dismissed.
• Identify a separate room in the house for the care of sick children or other household members.
• Update emergency contact lists.
• Create a flu kit with all necessary food, supplies and medicines
• Have workbooks, learning videos, and other materials available at home that support classroom exercises.
• Collect games, books, DVDs and other items to keep your family entertained if anyone must stay home for an extended period of time.
• If school is dismissed, monitor the school’s Web site, local news, and other sources for information about returning to school