"Is the flu vaccine safe?”, “Will vaccinations prevent me from catching the flu?” “Why should healthy babies be vaccinated?”, “If I’ve already contracted the flu, can I still be vaccinated?”, and “I was vaccinated last year, do I need to be vaccinated again this year?” are some of the most frequently asked questions from parents.

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) is putting the final touches on their parenting website where physicians, families experienced with the vaccine, professional child caregivers, and various children’s health groups address parents’ top five misgivings about flu vaccinations.

Despite the availability and protective benefits of the flu vaccine, parents are often influenced by unfounded myths about such preventive measure and worry that their children will still contract the virus even after vaccination. As a result, parents sometimes delay or even outright deny vaccinations for their children. Mrs. Hsu, a mom who was once wary about flu vaccines, said her attitude changed when early last year her 1-year-old son suffered a bout of persistent fever, vomiting, loss of appetite and poor motility, which she initially thought were symptoms of rose rash, but doctors later diagnosed as influenza. After seeing negative publicity blasting the safety of flu vaccines and hearing stories of friends’ children suffering through the discomforts of fever even after vaccination, Mrs. Yu worried about side effects from the flu vaccine, and it was only after her own child was laid low with the contagious virus that she realized the risks of not getting vaccinated far outweighed the small risks tied with the flu vaccine. Physicians recommend that influenza patients carefully follow their prescribed medical regimen, stay attuned to signs of respiratory problems, and take in plenty of fluids and rest. Caring for a child racked with influenza is a physically and emotionally exhausting task and parents should consult a physician for best method of care before taking a child for their first vaccination.

Dr. Yhu-Chering Huang, a director at the Taiwan Pediatric Association explained that as long as children are found by a physician to have no contraindications to the vaccine, they can be effectively protected against the flu through vaccinations. Occasional swelling and pain at the injection site, slight fever, and discomfort are normal, post-vaccination reactions of the body fighting the inoculated virus. Symptoms usually cease within one or two days. Parents must take care to observe their children’s health and follow physician-recommended guidelines for prescribed medicine. Doing so exchanges a short period of discomfort for overall health protection.

Dr. Nan-Chang Chiu, the Secretary-General of the Child Health Promotion Society of the R.O.C. said that the flu vaccine has been administered safely for decades. The vaccine’s safety is reassuring and Chiu warns that although some flu symptoms are similar to that of the common cold, they are not the same. In addition, flu vaccines are not made to prevent colds. In fact, an influenza infection is strong; a fever may last more than three or four days and the illness may take up to two weeks to run its course. Even more alarming, flu-related complications and rate of death are frighteningly high because the influenza virus mutates into a different strain each year. Regardless whether a child has ever received a flu vaccination or contracted influenza, he requires timely influenza vaccination each year for full protection against the virus and related complications.

Liu Jie, the CEO of e-Nanny pointed out that the internet has become a major source of information for parents and a popular place to exchange parenting tips, making it a breeding place for misconceptions about influenza vaccines. Such misunderstandings left unchecked often lead to impaired judgment and jeopardous actions. Lin Bao-hui, the Secretary-General of the Nanny Association, Taiwan, R.O.C. said statistics of reported flu cases reveal that the spread of infection and severity of illness were cut short by informed nannies who administered timely medical treatment and effective quarantine measures. The government reminds parents and child caretakers to pay attention to their child’s health and seek immediate medical treatment at the first signs of illness. For inquiries related to vaccines or other care-related issues, parents are urged to consult their doctors.

Taiwan CDC also warned that children below the age of six are four times more at risk for developing flu-induced complications than the average person, and seven times more likely to die as a result. Foreign research has also shown that flu vaccinations, in addition to preventing influenza, can also reduce the number of flu-related infant hospitalization cases. Since the government-funded flu vaccine program began this year, only 60% of children aged 3 and below were vaccinated as part of the program – a drop from 70% last year. For the most part, parents refuse to vaccinate their children for fear of side effects and concern over vaccine safety. As December is peak flu season, Taiwan CDC urges everyone not to delay vaccinations because of misconceptions. Young children should receive their first vaccinations early before the age of 9 to best protect against influenza because the benefits of the vaccine are most pronounced after two doses.