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| Last
year, the 1st Annual Flu Shot Fundraiser was an incredible
success with Hirsch Pediatrics donating over $2,500
to several local and national charities.
This year
we are happy to announce the 2nd Annual Flu Shot Fundraiser
as well as continue to offer the flu vaccine to all
adults, including parents and all caregivers. |
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| When can my child and I receive the flu vaccine? |
- Walk-in any weekday from 9:00 - 12:00 and
2:30 - 4:30 beginning Thursday, October
2nd.
- No appointment is necessary (with
minimal wait time).
- Additional evening and weekend flu clinics
are available (see right column).
- Current patients and their caregivers may
also receive their flu vaccine at a well-child exam.
- Please note that all children between the
ages of 6 months and 9 years who have only received
0 or 1 flu vaccines in all prior seasons combined
will need 2 doses separated by 1 month.
- Also
please note all children from 6 – 35 months will
automatically be given thimerosal free flu vaccine
while supplies last.
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| Can
parents and caregivers receive the flu vaccine from Hirsch
Pediatrics? |
- Yes
– 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.
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| My
child is not a patient of Hirsch Pediatrics.
Can I, as an adult, still receive the flu vaccine?
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- Yes
- all adults, even those without children who are
established patients of Hirsch Pediatrics (for example
pregnant women), may receive the flu vaccine at the
office. However, children
(under age 21) who are not established
patients of Hirsch Pediatrics will not be able to
receive the flu vaccine at the office.
- Please note that non-patient
children may still receive the flu vaccine at one
of the weekend off-site clinics listed to the right.
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| How much is the flu vaccine? |
- For
current patients of Hirsch Pediatrics, there is no
additional charge for the flu vaccine other than your
normal visit copay. Please note that all
children from 6 – 35 months will automatically be
given thimerosal free flu vaccine while supplies last.
- Adults
receiving the flu shot at Hirsch Pediatrics as well
as all flu shots given at off-site clinics will be
$30.
- Flumist
and preservative free flu vaccine will be available
at all locations for $45.
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| Who should get the flu vaccine? |
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The
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) recommend that all
children should be vaccinated against the flu.
Note: Only children over 6 months of age are eligible
for the flu shot.
In addition
to all children, the following groups are considered
high-risk and should be vaccinated:
- Any parent or caregiver of young children
- Adults 50 years of age or older.
- People with history of wheezing, asthma, or other
chronic medical conditions.
- Most women who are or will be pregnant during the
flu season. Note: Though the flu vaccine is felt
to be safe for pregnant women throughout the pregnancy,
some OB offices prefer to wait until after the first
trimester.
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| Can the flu shot actually
give you the flu? |
- No. It is impossible for the flu shot to give
you the flu.
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| So why did I get sick last
year after getting the flu shot? |
- The goal of a flu shot (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 shot 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.
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| What is Flumist?
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- Flumist is a thimerosal free nasal spray flu vaccine
that contains the live flu virus in in an attenuated
(weakened) form. Though it does have a hypothetical
extremely low risk of transmitting the actual flu
virus, many studies have shown Flumist to be more
effective than the shot.
- 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.
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| 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.
Based on guidelines established by the FDA, the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry (ATSDR), no child will receive
excessive mercury from childhood vaccines regardless
of whether or not their flu shot contains thimerosal
as a preservative.
Nevertheless,
to simplify administration and alleviate any lingering
concerns, while supplies last, Hirsch Pediatrics will
administer thimerosal free flu vaccine to all established
patients age 6 - 35 months. |
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| Which charities
are included in the fundraiser, and how are the donations
made? |
For
the 2008 - 2009 season, the National Alliance
of Mental Illness - Montgomery County Chapter (NAMI
- MC) has been selected as the charity to receive a
portion of the proceeds of all adult flu vaccines given
at the office of Hirsch Pediatrics. Additionally,
those organizations hosting an off-site flu clinic (currently
Beth El Preschool and the Westmoreland Congregational
Church of Christ), will receive a portion of the proceeds
received at those clinics.
Please contact
the office if you are interested in Hirsch Pediatrics
conducting a weekend or evening flu clinic for your
company or organization at your location. Once
approved, Hirsch Pediatrics will happily donate a portion
of the proceeds from any off site flu clinic to a group's
preferred charity. |
