Influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and up. It’s especially important for babies and anyone with conditions that make influenza more risky (like asthma, pregnancy, obesity, diabetes, or any chronic lung or heart disease.) People in contact with anyone in those special groups should consider getting their own vaccination a priority to help protect the people most at risk.
We have two kinds of influenza vaccines available for babies, children, and adults. At our practice, all influenza vaccines are preservative-free.
- The traditional “flu shot” is appropriate for almost anyone at or over 6 months of age.
- The “mist” vaccine is squirted into the nose. It’s only for people 2 years thru 49 years of age. To get the mist, you can’t have any kind of chronic lung or heart disease, and cannot have used asthma medicine in the last 12 months. The mist vaccine is not approved during pregnancy. Because the mist is a live, cold-adapted vaccine, it is not good for people with immune problems or their family contacts.
Neither kind of flu vaccine can be given to people with serious egg allergies, and neither should be given during a serious illness. Mild egg allergies and mild illnesses (like a cold) are not contraindications to influenza vaccines.
As with other, routine vaccines, we are pleased to offer influenza vaccines not only to our patients, but their families. If your insurance doesn’t cover this vaccine to be given here, the cash price is $25 for either kind of vaccine.
Answer these questions to know if your child needs two doses of flu vaccine this year:
- Has your child reached the 9th birthday (If yes, only 1 dose is needed.)
- If your child is 8 years old or less, did he or she get at least one dose of flu vaccine last year? (If yes, then only 1 dose is needed this year.)
- For children less than 9 who did not get any doses of flu vaccine last year, two doses need to be given for good protection this year. These should be given 28 or more days apart.
Remember: If you suspect you have influenza, stay away from crowds, school, and work. During flu season (and all year ‘round!) wash your hands frequently to prevent yourself from catching common infections. Almost all of these infections spread by you touching your own face, eyes, nose, or mouth. Stay healthy!