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Saasonal Vaccine Update
Updated January 4, 2010
Vaccines currently available at the office:
We have received our H1N1. Please call to schedule an afternoon appointment.
H1N1 vaccine is now available for children needing a second immunization. H1N1 is also available for parents and caregivers.
We have a limited supply of seasonal flu vaccine. If you haven't received your seasonal vaccine, please call us for an appointment.
To learn more about vaccinations, please read the
Vaccine Queries page.
Also, read the Influenza Vaccine Sections below.
SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINE
There are 2 forms of the vaccine, the Trivalent Influenza Vaccine (TIV) and the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV). The "shot" or TIV is recommended for all children 6 months and above. It is also recommended for children with chronic illnesses like Asthma, Heart disease, Diabetes or any kind of immunodeficiency. The "nasal spray vaccine" or (LAIV) is recommended for healthy individuals 2 years to 49 years. Because the safety or effectiveness of LAIV has not been established in persons with underlying medical conditions that confer a higher risk for influenza complications, these persons should be vaccinated only with TIV.
Annual vaccinations are the most effective way to prevent the disease and its associated complications. Vaccination every year confers a broad range of immunity against the various strains of influenza, as the strains of viruses in the vaccine changes from year to year. All children below the age of 9 years will need 2 dose of the vaccine at least 1 month apart, the first year they are vaccinated. Subsequently they will need only one dose for the season.
It should be noted that there are four influenza antiviral agents that are licensed in the United States: amantadine, rimantadine, zanamivir, and oseltamivir. The human H1N1 virus (not the Swine type) has a 99% resistance to Tamiflu or Oseltamivir. This high incidence of resistance to the anti-viral medications necessitates us, as a practice, to require the immunization of all children against this disease. However, these are the requirements of the CDC:
- all children aged 6 months-4 years (59 months);
- all persons aged >= 50 years;
- children and adolescents (aged 6 months-18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;
- women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
- adults and children who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma) or cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurological/neuromuscular, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
- adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV); and
- Residents of nursing homes and other long-term-care facilities.
- HCP (Health care providers)
- household contacts (including children) and caregivers of children aged <= 59 months (i.e., aged <5 years) and adults aged >= 50 years; and
- Household contacts (including children) and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza.
Please check the website for updates on availability of the vaccine and schedule an appointment to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine. Appointments are available all day Tuesdays or Wednesday afternoons.
H1N1 INFECTION OF ANIMAL ORIGIN OR "SWINE FLU"
The CDC has set specific criteria for eligibility of vaccination. These target groups include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, children 6 months through 4 years of age, and children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions and people between ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
As with seasonal influenza vaccine, children younger than 9 yrs will require two doses one month apart. Infants younger than 6 months of age are too young to get the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines. Thus, their parents, caregivers and siblings will need to get the vaccine.
Current seasonal influenza vaccines are not expected to provide protection against human infection with avian influenza A viruses, including influenza A (H5N1) viruses, or to provide protection against currently circulating swine influenza A or the novel influenza A (H1N1) viruses (318,448). However, reducing seasonal influenza risk through influenza vaccination of persons who might be exposed to nonhuman influenza viruses (e.g., H5N1 virus) might reduce the theoretical risk for recombination of influenza A viruses of animal origin and human influenza A viruses by preventing seasonal influenza A virus infection within a human host.
Please check the website for updates on availability of the vaccine and call to schedule an appointment.
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