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*SEASONAL FLU VACCINE* HAS ARRIVED
CALL THE OFFICE FOR AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT TO GET YOUR CHILD VACCINATED FOR SEASONAL FLU.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE OFFICE DURING OUR PEAK HOURS FROM 9-10:30 A.M. TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT. WE NEED THE LINES OPEN FOR DOCTOR/SICK CALLS.
IF YOU HAVE A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH, UST WAIT FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT.
The seasonal flu vaccine that is given yearly will not protect against the swine flu or H1N1 flu.
The flu vaccine is encouraged for all children 6 months-18 years. It is recommended for infants, children, and teens! The flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during this flu season. The 2009-2010 influenza vaccine can protect your child from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your child's illness milder if they get a related but different strain of flu virus.
Here is what we know so far about the H1N1 flu vaccine.
The H1N1 vaccine will be given separately and may require 2 doses. It has been purchased by the government. It is still being tested for its safety and efficacy. The H1N1 vaccine has not been approved for mass distribution at this time. The plan is to begin the seasonal flu vaccine campaign and then begin vaccinating against H1N1. At press time for this email, Town and Country Pediatrics is applying for permission to distribute the U.S. government purchased H1N1 flu vaccine. We have no confirmed information about this vaccine, and when and if it will become available other than what is posted on the Centers for Disease Control website. We will continue to update you as information becomes available.
Which seasonal flu vaccine will my child receive?
6 MONTHS-2 YEARS - Injectable flu vaccine (may need 2 vaccines 1 month apart if never received flu before)
2 YEARS AND OLDER - FluMist (live intranasal mist)
- your child has experienced wheezing or required the use of a nebulizer or inhaler in the last year
- your child has been labeled asthmatic
- your child is in contact with someone who is severely immunocompromised (i.e. bone marrow transplant recipient)
2 YEARS & OLDER WITH ASTHMA OR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED CONTACTS - Injectable flu vaccine
NO FLU VACCINE WILL BE ADMINISTERED IF YOUR CHILD HAS AN EGG ALLERGY!
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Flu Clinics booked in advance by appointment only will be the primary manner patients will receive vaccine.
Flu clinics will be scheduled and vaccine will be administered based on availability of shipments of vaccine from the manufacturer. We do not control the availability of flu vaccine in stock!
Do not call our office during peak hours of 9:00-10:30 a.m. in the morning for your flu clinic appointment. We need the phone lines opens for doctor calls and sick patients.
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Important Factors to Note about Flu Vaccine Administration:
* Children ages 6 months-8 years who have not been vaccinated previously or who were vaccinated for the first time during the previous season and received only 1 dose should receive 2 doses of vaccine 4 weeks apart.
* Mild side effects of the vaccine may include runny nose, headache, vomiting, muscle aches and fever. You cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine.
* Injectable Flu vaccine and FluMist nasal vaccine can be given to people with minor illnesses or mild upper respiratory tract infection without fever. FluMist nasal vaccine should not be administered if there is significant nasal congestion. However, if there is considerable nasal congestion- delaying administration of FluMist may be necessary.
* Flu Vaccine (both injectable and nasal spray) may not be given to patients who have egg allergies.
* If your child has never eaten eggs before, they will need to wait in the office for 20 minutes after flu vaccine is administered.
* A flu vaccine questionnaire will be filled out for your child prior to vaccination. If you would like to print this and fill it out in advance of the appointment Download here.
* No seasonal flu vaccine that we administer contains thimerosal as a preservative.
The kids will be back to school soon!
In addition to the flu vaccine, other ways to prevent colds and flu viruses are to encourage your children to:
1. Wash Their Hands. Frequent hand washing can help prevent transmission of illness from infected people. If your child plays with a toy or shares a desk with someone with a cold, who has just wiped his nose or coughed he could transmit that virus to your child. A cold or flu virus on your hands can live for up to three hours. If you then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth you could become infected.
2. Encourage them to avoid touching their Eyes, Nose, or Mouth (tough to do!) The eyes, nose, and mouth are the most common routes of entry for flu and cold viruses.
3. Drink Lots of Water. Dry centrally heated air (during the winter) can promote dehydration. Encourage your children to drink lots of water.
4. Encourage Sleep and Routine! It is hard to fight infection if you are tired. Try to keep a regular routine at bedtime to help your child sleep well.
5. Encourage a balanced diet. Lots of fruits and vegetables and lean meats or proteins
Please make sure to add Town and Country Pediatrics to your address book to ensure timely delivery of your email and to minimize bounce backs. Remember we never share email addresses with any other company and only communicate the most important information to our patients.
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