Influenza Vaccine -- does my baby need it?

The Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in 2009 caused great concerns among the caring parents. As the saying goes "prevention is better than cure", we are fortunate to have influenza vaccine to combat this common, and potentially dreadful infection.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in response to this development, has updated its recommendation for influenza vaccine.
Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2010-2011

• Children younger than 6 months are too young to receive influenza vaccine.
• Only 1 dose is needed for children at least 9 years old.
• Children younger than 9 years require at least 2 doses of 2009 pandemic H1N1 vaccine. They will need 2 doses of seasonal influenza vaccine this year if they did not receive the H1N1 vaccine during last year's influenza season.
• Children younger than 9 years who have never before received the seasonal influenza vaccine will require 2 doses.
• Children younger than 9 years who received seasonal influenza vaccine before the 2009-2010 influenza season need only 1 dose this year if they received at least 1 dose of the H1N1 vaccine last year, but they need 2 doses this year if they did not receive at least 1 dose of the H1N1 vaccine last year.  
• Children younger than 9 years who received seasonal influenza vaccine for the first time last year, but who only received 1 dose, require 2 doses this year.
• For children younger than 9 years who received influenza vaccine last year, but for whom it cannot be determined whether it was a seasonal influenza vaccine or the H1N1 influenza vaccine, 2 doses are recommended this year.
• For all children who require 2 doses, the second dose should be administered at least 4 weeks after the first dose.

Sounds confusing ? Never mind, bring your baby to the paediatrician and ask further.