Do flu shots still help young children? What a new JAMA Pediatrics study found
A new JAMA Pediatrics study suggests flu vaccination still prevents a meaningful number of cases in children ages 2 to 5. Here’s how the research worked, what it found, and what parents should know before flu season.
If you’re wondering whether flu shots still help young children, the answer from a new JAMA Pediatrics study is yes, with an important caveat: the study is observational, so it suggests benefit rather than proving it outright. In children ages 2 to 5, the researchers estimated that vaccination prevented a meaningful number of flu cases.
That matters for families because flu can still hit young children hard, and parents may be hearing mixed guidance in 2026 after changes to the federal childhood immunization schedule. The broader evidence and current pediatric guidance still support annual flu vaccination before flu season.
How the study worked
This was a research letter, not a randomized trial. The authors used national insurance-claims data and a birth-month natural experiment: children whose birthdays made a flu shot more likely during a routine visit were compared with children whose birthdays made vaccination less convenient.
That design can reduce some of the bias in ordinary observational studies, but it still cannot rule out every other explanation.
What the researchers found
The study looked at five typical flu seasons between 2016 and 2023, leaving out the pandemic-disrupted 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. Across those seasons, the researchers estimated that vaccination prevented roughly 9 to 14 flu cases per 100 vaccinated children ages 2 to 5, depending on the season.
For the 2022-23 season, the estimate was 10.9 fewer flu cases per 100 vaccinated children in that age group. Like all flu-vaccine research, the size of the benefit varied by season because protection depends in part on how well the vaccine matches circulating strains.
What this means in 2026
For parents, the practical message has not changed much: the CDC says annual flu vaccination is recommended for people 6 months and older, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older during the 2025-2026 season.
The federal childhood immunization schedule has been the focus of public attention this year, so families may notice more confusion than usual. But the evidence in young children still points in the same direction: flu shots reduce risk, even if they do not eliminate it.
What parents can do
Check with your child’s pediatrician or family clinician about the right timing and dose schedule. Some children ages 6 months to 8 years need two doses in a season, especially if they are getting vaccinated for the first time or their vaccine history is unknown.
If a child does get sick, watch for warning signs such as trouble breathing, dehydration, unusual sleepiness, or being hard to wake. Seek urgent care quickly if symptoms worsen or if you are worried your child may be seriously ill.
Sources
Editorial note: Weence articles are researched from cited public-health, medical, regulatory, journal, and reputable news sources and may be drafted with AI assistance. They are checked for source support, clarity, and safety guardrails before publication.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Research findings can be early or incomplete, and health guidance can change. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional about personal symptoms, diagnosis, medications, vaccines, screenings, or treatment decisions. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call emergency services right away.
