What is the minimum age for administering the influenza vaccine?

The minimum age for administering the influenza vaccine is 6 months. This guideline is established to ensure that infants, who are at risk for severe illness from the flu, can receive protection as early as possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children aged 6 months and older receive the flu vaccine annually to help prevent the illness and its complications. This age threshold allows for significant immunological development, making it safe and effective for young children to start receiving vaccinations against influenza. Children younger than 6 months are not eligible for the vaccine because they are still developing their immune systems, and the flu vaccine may not elicit an adequate immune response in that age group.