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By Aaliyah Gibson, The Active Times
The coronavirus pandemic restructured the way we live our lives. Wearing a face mask properly, social distancing and connecting with friends and family virtually all became social norms, and keeping loved ones healthy and safe became a top priority. But coronavirus isn’t the only illness we have to work to stave off — flu season is around the corner.
If you want to protect you and your family from getting the flu, one healthy habit to have is getting the annual flu vaccine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children can begin receiving the flu vaccine as young as 6 months old. Everyone 6 months and older should receive the flu vaccine by the end of October before the virus can spread in their community. Children between the ages of 6 months and 8 years who are getting the vaccine for the first time as well as individuals who have only gotten one dose of the vaccine should get two doses.
To make receiving the vaccine easier for small children, the CDC recommends distracting your child by singing or talking softly, holding your child firmly on your lap and comforting your child with a favorite toy or book that might feel familiar.
Getting the flu vaccine is one way to keep your family healthy and safe, especially if your children are reentering the classroom.
