Influenza ("Flu") /H1N1 Vaccine Availability

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Flu vaccine IS available, as of 9/1/2010. We are now able to take your requests for flu-shot appointments for ALL children at least 6 months old.

For the upcoming 2010-2011 flu season, the flu vaccination that is given seasonally will also contain protection against the H1N1 ("swine flu") virus, within the same dose. All children who are at least 6 months of age are recommended to be vaccinated for influenza. If your child is younger than 9 years old and never received flu vaccine in prior years OR is younger than 9 years old and did not receive even one dose of H1N1 vaccine last year, then 2 doses at least 1 month apart are recommended this year. If your child has received flu and H1N1 vaccines before, only a single flu vaccination is needed this season.



Vaccination is RECOMMENDED for all of the following:

- children greater than or equal to an age of 6 months

Vaccination is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for:

- children who have chronic disorders of the pulmonary or cardiovascular systems, including asthma

- children who have required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic diseases including diabetes, renal dysfunction, immunosuppression

- children receiving long-term aspirin therapy

- household contacts of persons in groups at high risk which includes children less than 6 months of age.

Are vaccines necessary every year?

New influenza vaccines are made before every influenza season because the virus strains change each year and protection from influenza does not last more than one year. This means that last year's influenza vaccine will not protect you against this year's influenza viruses.

How many vaccines are needed each year?

Among previously unvaccinated children aged less than 9 years, 2 doses administered at least 1 month apart are recommended. If your child did not receive a second dose of vaccine last year but did receive his/her first ever flu vaccine, two doses of vaccine should be administered this year.

What parents should know about thimerosal.

Thimerosal is an organic mercury-based preservative used in vaccines. It is also found in other medicines and products including some throat and nose sprays and contact lens solutions.

There have beeen many studies on the safety of thimerosol in vaccines, and no studies show a link between thimerosal in vaccines and autism or other neurologic problems. Some of the flu vaccine we are giving has an extremely small amount of thimerosal as a preservative. This is safe, and does not cause medical problems. Please check the web sites on the home page, under the heading "Influenza Vaccine Information" for more information on this subject.

OUR PLAN FOR ADMINISTERING INFLUENZA VACCINE TO OUR PATIENTS:

As you can see from the above recommendations, there is an extremely large number of children who should receive
the influenza vaccine this year.

We will administer the vaccine to all children who fit the criteria outlined above at their regular well-child checkups over the next 6 months.

If you would like siblings of your child who is being seen with an appointment, you should CALL OUR OFFICE AHEAD OF YOUR VISIT to request the vaccine be given at that time. If you do not call ahead, we may not be able to give the vaccine to siblings.

We will institute influenza vaccine "clinics" again this year.
These times will be set aside to do nothing except give the vaccine to our patients. These will be "scheduled" times -
NOT a walk-in "clinic". There will be NO contact with a physician during these times.

If you make an appointment for the flu vaccine, and your child is ill, please call ahead to cancel the vaccine appointment. You may then make a "sick" appointment with a physician.

Children with a history of a SERIOUS allergic reaction to eggs, or to a previous dose of influenza vaccine should not receive the influenza vaccine. If there is a fever, you should wait until your child recovers before rescheduling the vaccine.

Please have your current insurance card ready. This will greatly help the flow of patients, as we will be processing large numbers of children during these times.

We will be giving you a VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT when we administer the vaccine. You should download or read this statement on the internet prior to coming in, so you are familiar with the vaccine and its side effects. The web link is on our home page under the heading "Influenza Vaccine Information".

We hope that this system will expedite the administration of the influenza vaccine to your child in a way that is both efficient and orderly. Please realize that there will be a
large number of children needing to immunized. We appreciate your patience in this process.

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