Flu season is closer than you think!
This year, the CDC is recommending influenza immunization for everyone, all adults and children, over six months. The vaccines are safe and effective, and they become more and more effective as a higher proportion of the population gets vaccinated. The goal this year will be to get as many people vaccinated as possible to protect all of us.
The flu vaccines for this year all include last year’s pandemic strain, the novel-H1N1, in addition to two other widely circulating flu strains.
We have started distributing both the “mist” and injectable versions of the vaccine at our offices. We should have enough flu vaccines at our offices to accommodate all of our patients and parents. Our goal is the best protection possible for our community.
We’ve set up flu vaccine “clinics” to administer only flu vaccines to children and parents in our practice. Please call for clinic dates.
Flu clinic slots are by appointment only, and only flu shots and flu mist will be administered at these times. There will be no physician present—please do not bring sick children to these clinic times (call ahead to cancel if your child becomes ill.)
We also administer flu vaccines during daytime appointments, though there may be longer wait times because our staff will also be working with other patients during the day.
We are happy to give flu vaccines to parents in our practice, and will file for insurance payment. We can also give flu vaccines (mist or injection) for a competitive cash price—call for details on insurance coverage and pricing.
The mist vaccine is only for those from 2 to 49 years of age who do NOT have any chronic lung or heart disease, and who have a normal immune system. For people older or younger than this, or who have other health problems, the injected vaccine must be used. You can print and fill out this form to determine which version is right for you and your children.
Many children who have not yet reached their ninth birthday will need two doses of vaccine this year to get the best protection from the flu vaccine. To help decide how many doses your child needs, use this tool.