Flu resources for patients at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders (CCBD)

The most important step you can take to stay healthy this flu season is to make sure everyone in your family (6 months and older) gets the flu shot. Watch the video for an important message from the Hematology/Oncology team at Children’s Health℠ and get more information to help protect your family.

Why is the flu shot important for children with cancer and blood disorders?

The flu can cause serious complications for patients with compromised immune systems, including patients who have received chemotherapy treatment within the past six months or who are diagnosed with sickle cell disease.

The flu vaccine reduces the likelihood of getting the flu. By getting vaccinated, children being treated for cancer and blood disorders lower their risk of infection and associated complications.

Flu vaccines for patients in the Pauline Allen Gill Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders

If your child has an upcoming appointment at Children’s Health, ask your provider about getting a flu shot for your child during the appointment. Children’s Health offers flu vaccines to patients in select high-risk clinics, including the Pauline Allen Gill Center. This is to help encourage the health and safety of patients with chronic medical conditions.

If your child does not have an upcoming appointment, or their clinic is not offering flu vaccines, we recommend they get their flu shot at your pediatrician or primary care office. If your child does not have a pediatrician, visit Children’s Health Primary Care to find one. You can also find a list of additional vaccine locations on our main flu resources page.

If your child gets a flu shot somewhere else, please let your care team know. One easy way to do that is to register to use a free, online vaccination record keeper called the ImmTrac2 vaccination registry.

What is ImmTrac2?

ImmTrac2 is the Texas state vaccination registry. This convenient system stores immunization records from multiple databases in one secure, centralized, online system – so you don’t have to. To use this registry, you must first give your permission to participate. Only authorized organizations such as hospital systems can access the registry. Children’s Health pulls vaccine data from ImmTrac2. This information helps us understand how to better serve families during flu season.

Flu vaccine FAQs

• Who should get the flu shot?

  The flu shot is recommended for every person 6 months of age and older. Getting vaccinated is especially important if someone in your home is at high risk for serious flu complications. This includes children under the age of 5, adults over age 65, and children with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, epilepsy, heart conditions and sickle cell disease. 

• When should I get a flu shot?

  It’s best to get the flu shot in early fall (September and October) because it can take up to two weeks for antibodies to develop. If you have a child who needs two doses of the flu vaccine (like if it’s your child’s first flu shot), it’s recommended they get the first dose as soon as possible. If you have a child with an underlying health condition, it’s especially important to get the flu shot in early fall before flu cases start to increase.

  If you or your children haven’t gotten your flu vaccine by the end of October, remember, it’s better late than never because some flu seasons stretch out for months. We encourage you to get your flu vaccine at any point during the flu season rather than not getting it at all.

• How effective is the flu shot?

  The flu shot significantly reduces your risk of getting the flu. It also reduces your risk of developing serious complications, if you get the flu. Every year, a new vaccine is produced to try to be as effective as possible. This is because new strains of the flu can circulate each year. Even if the vaccine is less effective at preventing one strain of the flu, it can help protect you against another strain and decrease the severity of symptoms and severe complications like pneumonia.

  Learn more about what to expect for this year’s flu season.

• Can the flu shot make you sick?

  You cannot get sick with the flu from a flu shot. Some people may feel side effects after they get their vaccine, including soreness and redness at the injection site, muscle aches and fatigue. Side effects are typically mild and may last a few days. For patients receiving the nasal spray vaccine (FluMist), some may develop nasal congestion for 48-72 hours.

• Can I get the flu shot at the same time as other vaccines?

  Yes, you can get your flu shot at the same time as other vaccines. Ask your health care provider if you have any questions.