When to call a doctor:

Contact your doctor or bring your child to the emergency department of an hospital if your child -

* has signs of influenza, lung or heart disease, or any other chronic illness, is taking treatment that affects the immune system, and taking acetysalicyclic acid (aspirin) regularly for a medical condition;

* is less than three months old and has a rectal temperature of over 38.5oC;

* has trouble breathing when resting, is wheezing, has chest pains when breathing, or is coughing up bloody sputum;

* drinks very little fluid and is not urinating at least every six hours when awake;

* is vomiting for more than four hours, or has severe diarrhoea;

* is constantly irritable and will not calm down;

* is listless, not interested in playing or unusually sleepy;

* still has a fever after five days or suddenly develops a new fever after recuperating.

Take your child immediately to an emergency department of a hospital if your child:

* has severe trouble breathing or blue lips;

* is limp or unable to move;

* finds it hard to wake up or does not respond upon being awakened;

* has a stiff neck;

* seems confused;

* has a seizure.

When is it contraindicated?

* Being allergic to eggs, chicken proteins, neomycin and other active substances in the vaccine, such as formaldehyde, or reacts to a previous vaccination.

* The child has a fever (vaccination then needs to be postponed).

* The child is suffering an acute illness (postpone vaccination until he gets better).

z The child is less than six months.

Where can one get flu vaccinations?

From private GPs, and paediatricians in private practice or private hospitals.

New Straits Times/Asia News Network

This story was first published on June 16, 2008.