| September
2, 2011
Dear
Parents,
Hirsch
Pediatrics is pleased to begin its 2011 - 2012 annual
flu vaccine campaign with walk-in hours beginning
on Monday, September 12th. See below for details.
The
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) have recommended that everybody
over the age of 6 months be vaccinated against the flu.
This is especially important for the higher risk groups
including all children as well as caretakers of young
children. I strongly support this recommendation.
Please do not delay in getting you and your child vaccinated.
As
always, Hirsch Pediatrics is committed to providing
the highest quality of care by ensuring that the flu
vaccine is administered to you and your child as expeditiously,
safely, and conveniently as possible.
Please
see below for answers to commonly asked questions regarding
the flu vaccine and its availability at Hirsch Pediatrics.
Also, please remember to check our website Flu
vaccine page regularly for any updates
or notifications about the 2011 2012 flu season.
I
look forward to working with you to help ensure that
you and your family have a "flu-free" flu
season.
Sincerely,
Steven
F. Hirsch, MD, FAAP |
|
When can my child and I receive the flu vaccine? |
Walk-in any WEEKDAY from 9:00 - 12:00 or 2:30
- 4:30 beginning Monday, September 12th.
WEEKEND
walk-in flu clinic from 10:00 - 12:00 on Saturday,
September 17th.
No appointment is necessary.
Current patients and their caregivers may also receive
the flu vaccine at any well-child exam.
Please note that all children will be given thimerosal
free flu vaccine while supplies last.
|
| |
| Can
parents and caregivers receive the flu vaccine from Hirsch
Pediatrics? |
Yes.
While supplies last, we are happy to vaccinate and
encourage all parents and caregivers to receive the
flu vaccine. Not only will this protect those
individuals from the flu, it will significantly protect
their children from flu exposure as well.
|
| |
| My
child is not a patient of Hirsch Pediatrics.
Can I, as an adult, still receive the flu vaccine?
|
|
Yes.
All adults may receive the flu vaccine at the office. However,
children who are not established patients will not
be able to receive the flu vaccine.
|
| |
Two
years ago there were separate vaccines for seasonal
flu and the H1N1 flu virus. Are there two separate
vaccines this year? |
No. This year
there is only one single vaccine that protects against
both the seasonal and H1N1 flu virus.
|
| |
Some
children will need two doses of flu vaccine separated
by 1 month. How many doses will my child need? |
Children
ages 6 months through 8 years who have never received
the flu vaccine before will need 2 doses separated
by 1 month. Children who are at least 9 years old
will only need 1 dose regardless of previous vaccination
history.
|
| |
| I
do not recall if my child received the flu vaccine last
year. How can I find out this information? |
Simply
log into your patient
portal account and you can view
your child's personal health record (PHR) which will
include a history of all previous vaccines given.
Please contact Hirsch Pediatrics if you need a login
and password for your patient portal account.
|
| |
| How much does the flu vaccine cost? |
For
current patients of Hirsch Pediatrics whose insurance
coverage includes the flu vaccine, there is no additional
charge for the flu vaccine other than your normal
visit copay. The cost to non-patient adults for regular
flu vaccine is $30; Flumist and preservative free
flu vaccine are $45. All children will automatically
be given thimerosal free flu vaccine while supplies
last.
Reimbursement
Note: Hirsch Pediatrics is able to offer the flu vaccine
to our non-patient adults and caregivers as a courtesy.
By receiving your flu vaccine at Hirsch Pediatrics,
you agree to pay the above noted cost and will not
submit this to your insurance for in-network reimbursement.
For non-patients, any insurance contracted or reduced
amounts will not apply. Should you prefer to pay a
reduced rate (i.e. co-pay), you must contact your
own primary care physician or other health clinic
to receive the vaccine.
|
| |
| Who should get the flu vaccine? |
The
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) recommend that everybody
be vaccinated against the flu.
|
| |
Which
people are at higher risk of developing flu-related
complications? |
The
following groups are at higher risk of developing
flu related complications (i.e. pneumonia, bronchitis,
sinus infections, ear infections) that can lead to
hospitalizations:
•
Children younger than
5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
•
Adults 65 years of age
or older
•
People with history of
wheezing, asthma, or other chronic medical conditions
•
Pregnant woman
|
| |
| Is
it safe for pregnant woman to receive a flu shot?
|
Yes.
As stated in a September 2010 press
release from the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), All pregnant
women, regardless of trimester, should get the influenza
vaccination during the flu season [and] preventing
the flu during pregnancy is an essential element of
prenatal care. In fact a recent study of 4200 births
found that pregnant women who received the flu vaccine
were 40% less likely to deliver prematurely. Note:
Pregnant woman may only receive the flu shot and may
not receive the nasal spray Flumist.
|
| |
| Is
it safe for nursing mothers to receive the flu vaccine?
|
Yes.
It is safe and highly recommended that all nursing
mothers receive a flu shot or a nasal spray Flumist.
|
| |
| Can a flu vaccine actually
give you the flu? |
No.
It is impossible for any flu vaccine to give you the
flu.
|
| |
| So why did I get sick last
year after getting the flu shot? |
The goal
of a flu vaccine (or any vaccine) is to expose your
immune system to a component of the actual organism
you are trying to protect yourself against.
It is a relatively short lived immune system response
to this component that makes you feel sick, not the
actual virus. Thus, the illness that you may
feel from the vaccine is typically much milder and
shorter in duration than actually becoming sick with
the flu virus. Also, the illness you may feel
from the flu vaccine is not contagious.
|
| |
| What is Flumist?
|
Flumist
is a thimerosal free seasonal nasal spray flu vaccine
that contains the live flu virus in an attenuated
(weakened) form. Flumist is only approved for ages
2 - 49, and there are more restrictions about who
may receive Flumist. Visit www.flumist.com
for a complete listing of who is eligible for Flumist.
The Flumist costs $45.
|
| |
| Is it safe for
my child to receive a flu vaccine with thimerosal? |
As stated
by the CDC and supported by the vast majority of medical
organizations, "There is no convincing evidence
of harm caused by the small amount of thimerosal in
vaccines, except for minor effects like swelling and
redness at the injection site due to sensitivity to
thimerosal.
Nevertheless,
to simplify administration and alleviate any lingering
concerns, while supplies last, Hirsch Pediatrics will
administer thimerosal free seasonal flu vaccine to
all established patients.
|
