Influenza is a very contagious illness. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pains, fatigue, runny nose, sore throat and cough. Its most common complication is pneumonia.

Parents, note that children aged 6-59 months SHOULD get a vaccine. As reported, "Children under 3 years should receive a 0.25ml dose of inactivated flu vaccine. Children over 3 years and adults should receive a dose of 0.5ml."

Ideally, they should get the vaccine around October/November.

With a 3 year old who attends Kindergarten and a 3-month old baby, I have decided to "book" the whole family (minus the baby) for flu shots. What about you? Have you already scheduled your child's (and possibly yours, too) flu vaccination?

For more flu facts, visit CDC' Preventing the Flu.