Both of us have kids with summer birthdays. That typically means parties organized around a few key themes: water activities, outdoor grilling and lots of ice cream. But children with summer birthdays share two other things in common: They are more likely to get the flu, and they are more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
For a characteristic we don’t get to choose, our birthdays affect many important parts of our lives. Our research has shown that there are some surprising and important considerations families and health providers alike should address for kids whose birthdays happen to be in the summer.
Take, for example, getting the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say all children at least 6 months old should get the vaccine annually, and it typically becomes available in pediatrician’s offices at the end of August or early September. That means young children with September, October or November birthdays can easily get their flu shot when they’re already at the doctor for their annual visit, usually around their birthday.
