Flu vaccines for the 2023-2024 season are now available.  We continue to offer both Flu shot and Flu mist for our patients.  As always, we are pleased to offer influenza vaccines to parents as well!  Flu vaccines are being administered by appointment only again this year in our ongoing efforts at infection control and socially distancing our patients and families.  We have both weekday and weekend options for scheduling Flu vaccine appointments. 

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Flu vaccine should be given as soon as possible this year.  It is never too early, and your protection will last throughout the season.  We strongly recommend that ALL children age 6 months and older receive an annual influenza vaccine.  Additionally, all parents, caregivers, and close contacts of children under 6 months of age should be vaccinated as well.  

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Please be aware that thousands of people die from the flu every year.  Infants and young children are at increased risk for complications from the flu.  Flu vaccines aren't perfect, but they can prevent millions of illness.  Each year a new flu vaccine is made to protect against four influenza virus strains that are likely to cause disease in the upcoming flu season. Even when the vaccine doesn’t exactly match, it may still provide some protection.  Please keep in mind that influenza vaccine does NOT cause the flu!  Influenza vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.  It can take up to 2 to 4 weeks for protection to develop after being vaccinated.

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Two types of influenza vaccine are available:

• Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (“Flu Shot”)

• Live, Intranasal Influenza Vaccine (“Flu Mist”)​

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THE INTRANASAL FLU VACCINE (Flu Mist) IS AVAILABLE AGAIN THIS YEAR!

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When choosing which vaccine to get, please consider the following:

• If a child is under 9 years old and is receiving a flu vaccine for the first time ever, they must receive two doses of vaccine separated by four weeks. The same guidelines apply for any child under 9 years old who received only one dose of flu vaccine their first year.  

• All children age 9 and older receive one dose of vaccine, regardless of prior influenza vaccination.

• Children 2 years and older may receive either intranasal or injectable influenza vaccine.

• Children 6 months to 23 months old must receive injectable influenza vaccine.

• Intranasal influenza vaccine is contraindicated in children with certain medical conditions, including asthma or wheezing in the prior 12 months, and those who are taking aspirin, have taken Tamiflu or other antiviral medication in the previous 48 hours, have a weakened immune system, are pregnant, or are over the age of 49.

 

All of our injectable influenza vaccine is preservative-free!

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Please feel free to ask us for clarification of any of the above information.

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