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Drs. Roseman, Desouza, McHugh, and Dubelman
We are currently out of flu vaccine for the 2012-2013 flu season. Please check back in the fall of 2013 for information on the 2013-2014 flu vaccine availability.
The CDC recommends that all children over the age of 6 months should receive a flu vaccine annually. Below is information regarding our vaccine availability, and our plans for scheduling patients to receive their vaccines. Please also reference the links available for information about who should be vaccinated, the differences between flu vaccines, and links to important resources.
Latest Update (updated 9-10-2012):
- FLU MIST (live, attenuated vaccine): AVAILABLE for patients with private and state (VFC) insurances. We are scheduling these appointments during nurse only clinics – please call to book an appointment.
- INJECTABLE FLU VACCINE(inactive killed vaccine): Available for high risk patients during prescheduled provider appointments.
We are currently scheduling high-risk patient appointments based on criteria below. We are also scheduling nurse only appointments for all patients without a high risk diagnosis. Children who meet the following criteria are candidates to receive Flu Mist. If your child does not meet the following criteria, it is not safe to receive Flu Mist and they should receive the injectable flu vaccine. Please call our office to schedule your child's flu vaccine today.
Criteria needed to receive Flu Mist safely:
Age: 2 years and older
Does NOT have one of the following medical conditions, and/or has not received a phone call from our office indicating that they are a “high-risk patient”:
- Asthma or chronic lung condition
- Ages 2-4 years old who has had an episode of wheezing within the past year
- Cardiovascular conditions (e.g., congenital heart disease)
- Diabetes
- Immunosuppressed patients – those taking immunosuppressive medications (e.g. prednisone, chemotherapy), or those with cancer or hematologic condition
- Hematologic abnormalities (e.g., sickle cell disease)
- Kidney or liver disease
- Patients with neurologic conditions
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Please check vaccine availability based on insurance:
Patients with Private Insurances:
We currently have supply of injectable vaccine for all ages and Flu Mist available. High risk patients can be scheduled as indicated above and Flu Mist will be scheduled in clinic format.
Patients with State Funded Insurances:
We currently have older child injecable vaccine available (patients 3 years and older), and Flu Mist. These appointments can be scheduled based on guidelines above.
Unfortunately, we have not received adequate supply of the baby injectable vaccine (6-35 months) for state insurance. Please check back end of September to see if we have received additional supply from the county.
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Frequently asked questions
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How many flu shots do I need?
This season there is only one version of the flu vaccine (available in either injectable form or in Flu Mist nasal form), and it contains within it the H1N1 influenza strain of 2009. In 2009, it was recommended to have both a “seasonal” flu shot and an “H1N1 flu shot.” This year (like 2010), it is all covered in one vaccine.
How many doses of the flu shot do I need?
Children age 9 or older only need one dose for the 2012-2013 influenza seasons.
Children under the age of 9 need 2 doses if:
- They have not received two or more total doses of flu vaccine since July 2010
- They have never had flu vaccine of any kind before
- Those children who require 2 doses as above should receive their second dose at least 4 weeks after the first.
I got the flu vaccine last season, do I really need to get the flu shot again?
Yes. The vaccine needs to be re-dosed every year. Immunity from last season’s vaccination is not expected to cover you through the entire influenza season 2012-2013, leaving you vulnerable to infection in the latter half of the season.
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I got ill with the influenza illness last season, do I really need to get the flu shot this season?
Yes. Although it is possible that antibodies from an influenza infection last year could carry over beyond the 1-year mark, it is variable per patient how long those antibodies last and how protective they really are. Therefore, it is recommended to get the flu vaccine every year.
Should patients with an allergy to eggs get the flu vaccine?
Children who are known to have a severe/anaphylactic allergy to eggs should not receive the flu vaccine.
Will the flu vaccine contain thimerisol?
No. We use a thimerisol-free version of the influenza vaccine, while supplies last.
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Flu Resource pages:
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