Q: Is the flu vaccine really necessary for healthy kids?
A: Flu — short for influenza — is an illness caused by a respiratory virus. The flu can spread rapidly through communities, as the virus is passed from person to person.
When someone with the flu coughs or sneezes, the influenza virus gets into the air, and any people who are nearby, including children, can inhale it through the nose or mouth. The virus also can be spread when people touch a contaminated hard surface, such as a door handle, and then put their hands or fingers in their nose or mouth or rub their eyes.
