Dr. Richard Besser explains the best way to talk to kids about the flu.
The first swine flu vaccinations could be ready as early as next week, but what do parents need to know before they take their children to the doctor? For children younger than 10, getting fully vaccinated for flu season may mean getting four shots this year.
How much do children know about the flu? And are they prepared for all those shots?
ABC News' senior health and medical editor, Dr. Richard Besser, sat down with a group of children between the ages of 6 and 8 to talk about getting shots.
Grace Sadim, 7, knows that you go to the doctor "to get the flu shot."
And William Keenan, 8, knows all about the flu: "The white blood cells, they go around and they get to know what weapons they need," he said, but his younger sister doesn't understand.
"She thinks she gets shots to hurt her," William said.
Ryan Zucker, 6, hates going to the doctor for the same reason. "I hate checkups," he said. "Because of the finger prick thing. Really hurts."
When asked if they know why they get shots, Ryan said "to not get the worst disease, diphtheria. ... Diphtheria is a really bad disease. Even more bad than the swine flu."
As young as they are, the children had already developed their own methods for coping with shots.
"I close my eyes ? I close them really tight," said Yamila Frej, 7. "And, then, it doesn't hurt."
It helps when the doctor tells her what's going to happen, "so it just doesn't come out of nowhere and I'm not ready," she said.
All the children agreed that it would help to think about something nice when getting a shot, so it doesn't hurt so much.
"I think about my birthday," William said.
"A dog named Zeke, who eats everything," Grace said.
For Yamila, her happy thought is "my No. 1 dream, which is to go to Paris and turn into a millionaire."
Grace's sister, Sophia Sadim, 8, said it would help if parents "explain why you get it and, if you don't get it, what can happen to you."
Yamila said, "Sometimes they [parents] hug you and they encourage you and they say it's all right. It's just going to be for one second and, then, it's not going to hurt anymore."
"I just want them to do it," Grace said. "Get it over with."
Do you have more information about this topic? If so, please click here to contact the editors of ABC News.
