The following are recommendations to consider when hospital discharge after neonatal admission, and even if the baby was born healthy and at term:
· avoid exposing the patient to crowds of people;
· avoid passive exposure to smoke from parents and other family members;
· limit contact between newborns and infected people as much as possible.
If parents and close caregivers present signs of flu or a cold:
· increase personal hygiene precautions, including hand hygiene;
· put a mask or a handkerchief over the mouth and nose while caring for newborns;
· try to maintain a distance of at least one meter between the parents' bed and the newborn's cradle;
· disinfect spaces close to the newborn's bed where its personal items are kept.
Provide guidance on vaccination against influenza in children from 6 months to 2 years of age, according to the national immunization program of each country, as your pediatrician will advise you in due course.
One possible strategy for protecting newborns up to 6 months old is to vaccinate the child’s parents and caretakers against influenza. Another way of protecting newborns is to vaccinate pregnant women, since studies demonstrate some protection for the fetus while the woman is pregnant, as well as for some months after a child’s birth. You may consult with your doctor for the indications of these vaccines.
