Yes, getting vaccinated while you are under anesthesia is a real thing.
A real thing that has anti-vaccine influencers panicking that someone is going to slip them a vaccine while they are under anesthesia.
Why Get Vaccinated Under Anesthesia?
Of course, that’s not what this is about, though.
And it is not about going under anesthesia just to get a flu vaccine!
“The program, “Close Your Eyes, We’ll Immunize,” has been providing influenza vaccines to children undergoing sedation or anesthesia for other procedures since 2023.”
Technically Speaking: “Close Your Eyes, We’ll Immunize” — A CHOP Initiative to Improve Influenza Vaccination Rates
It is about vaccinating kids when they are already in the hospital and are being sedated for some other reason.
Why?
“Success has been measured primarily by the number of vaccines administered each season. In the 2025-2026 flu season, we delivered 2,054 influenza vaccine doses to children already undergoing sedation or anesthesia. Importantly, approximately one-third of families report that their child would not have otherwise received the influenza vaccine due to reasons including needle phobia, limited seasonal healthcare access, and vaccine hesitancy.”
Technically Speaking: “Close Your Eyes, We’ll Immunize” — A CHOP Initiative to Improve Influenza Vaccination Rates
Mostly because it gets more kids vaccinated and protected!
“Family responses have been overwhelmingly positive. For some, the program offers convenience — allowing vaccination to be completed without an additional visit. For others, it provides access to protection they might not otherwise pursue due to other barriers.”
Technically Speaking: “Close Your Eyes, We’ll Immunize” — A CHOP Initiative to Improve Influenza Vaccination Rates
And that’s a good thing.
After all, many kids, mostly unvaccinated, die from the flu every year.
What else?
Giving flu vaccines to children when they are already in the hospital and are being sedated for some other reason has been well studied.
Influenza Vaccination in Perioperative Settings: A Teachable Moment
General anesthesia is a “teachable moment” for influenza vaccination in pediatric
Safety of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Hospitalized Surgical Patients: A Cohort Study
Safety of Influenza Vaccination Administered During Hospitalization
Pediatric influenza vaccination in the perioperative setting: A quality improvement project
Not that Madhava Setty mentioned any of them…
Vaccines are safe. My husband, children and I have had every single one of them. Our kids were D1 athletes at USC and UCLA and have never suffered from an infectious disease except my oldest (chicken pox) before the vaccine was available. They are extraordinarily healthy.
Conversely, my dad was raised in Christian Science, and didn’t receive any vaccines and almost died from mumps. My sister’s husband was also raised in Christian Science and almost died of chickenpox at age 42. They both became very science focused and received all the rest of their vaccines.
During Covid, I know of three friends relatives who died unvaccinated. One was only 52 years old and was gone in three weeks
My friend, who is a doctor at Cedar Sinai in LA, said that over 85% of those who died of Covid at that hospital were unvaccinated. It was extraordinarily painful for the doctors and nurses to hear the regret of so many patients for not vaccinating. Sadly, those who died aren’t on Instagram anymore to tell their true stories.
How much evidence do people need that vaccines are a blessing?