News
SEASONAL FLU VACCINE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PATIENTS AND THEIR PARENTS
Posted on: 12/14/2009
Anderson Hills Pediatrics is excited to be able to offer seasonal Flumist vaccine to our patients and their parents. Due to an unexpected supply of live seasonal intranasal Flumist vaccine we are now able to provide this service to the parents’ of the children we care for. Providing vaccine to caregivers is a vital aspect of preventive healthcare and we are happy to be able to provide this service. As long as supplies are available, we will offer the Flumist vaccine to parents, when they are in the office with their children for an appointment. As an accommodation to parents that do not have appointments scheduled for their children in the near future, we are offering a special flu clinic this Saturday December 19th from 9 am until 1 pm. This clinic will only be for parents of our patients.
We currently have injectable seasonal flu vaccine for children 6 months to 35 months of age. We also have seasonal FluMist nasal spray vaccine for children two years and older who do not have any chronic conditions such as asthma or diabetes. Children receiving influenza vaccine for the first time this year will require two doses spaced at least 28 days apart. Children who have received H1N1 FluMist vaccine should wait 28 days before receiving a dose of seasonal FluMist, although 14 day are acceptable.
Guidelines for Scheduling an Appointment for your Child for the Seasonal Flu Vaccine
* Children 6 months to 35 months - Please call the office to schedule your seasonal flu vaccine. If you have an appointment for well care scheduled prior to January, we can give the vaccine at that time.
* Children 2 years and older and generally healthy - Please call the office now to schedule your seasonal FluMist vaccine
* Children 3 years and older with chronic health conditions - Please call the office now to schedule your seasonal injectable vaccine.
Guidelines for Scheduling an Appointment for Parents for the Seasonal Flu Vaccine
According to the CDC annual vaccination against influenza is recommended for any adult who wants to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting it to others. Vaccination is recommended for all adults without contraindications in various groups, including those that are close contacts of persons at higher risk, in particular caregivers of children aged <5 years, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children aged <6 months; and household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza.
We only have live seasonal influenza vaccine available for parents, i.e. seasonal intranasal Flumist.
To be able to get this vaccine, you
have to be between the ages of 2 years and 49 years of age;
have no long-term health problems such as asthma, heart, lung, kidney, liver, metabolic disease such as diabetes, anemia, or other blood disorders, seizure disorder, cerebral palsy, or other muscle or nerve disorders;
cannot suffer from a weakened immune system such as from HIV/AIDS, steroids, cancer treatment, or close contact with anyone with a weakened immune system;
cannot be on long-term aspirin therapy;
cannot be pregnant;
cannot have a history of egg allergy, monosodium glutamate (MSG), or a previous dose of flu vaccine;
cannot have a history of Guillain Barre Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness);
cannot have moderate or severe illness in the last 48 hours, including any fever;
cannot have a severe reaction to latex; and
cannot have had any live vaccines in the past 28 days, which includes H1N1 nasal mist, chickenpox, or MMR vaccines.
Parents interested in receiving seasonal Flumist from our office should call our regular office number - 513-232-8100 and when the recording starts enter extension 3013, which will take you to our flu vaccine hotline. Leave your name and a phone number where you can be reached between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, and a nurse will contact you to schedule an appointment for this coming Saturday December 19th. There is a charge of $25.00, payable at time of service. We cannot bill insurance companies. Based on supplies this may be the only parent flu vaccine clinic we are able to offer, so we do recommend that you call early to make your appointment.
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