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FLU CLINIC UPDATE - 12/10/09

Posted on: 12/10/2009

We continue to work through the many requests to schedule appointments for seasonal flu vaccine and H1N1 vaccine and we continue to ask for your patience.  Please do not call the office regarding flu vaccine appointments as it only delays the staff in calling you back to schedule your appointment.  Appointment requests for flu vaccine must be requested on-line. The requests are numbered by the computer and we are calling families back in the order in which they were received. Product shipments are continuing.  We have received the rest of our seasonal flu product and H1N1 shipments continue to come in.

Please come prepared.

Print the Influenza Screening Form linked below and bring it to your appointment.  You must have a form completed for each child before they can be vaccinated. 

SCREENING FORM

Educate yourself on the products available and know what you want before you come in. 

Vaccine Information Seasonal Flu

Vacine Information H1N1 Injection

Vaccine Information H1N1 Nasal

We use the upper arms for injection sites on most patients.  Wear short sleeves. For babies who are not yet walking, we use the upper thigh for injection sites. Dress your child to easily expose the upper thighs and have your child ready before you enter the exam room with the nurse.

Most parental questions are about the H1N1 Intranasal Vaccine or about thimerosal.  The live intranasal vaccine does not contain thimerosal and is a safe alternative for healthy individuals.  This is a weakened virus and does not cause influenza.  There are more restrictions with the intranasal vaccine to protect those that have a weakened immune system or chronic disease.  If you answer no to all of the questions about the H1N1 Intranasal Vaccine on the Influenza Screening Form, the intranasal vaccine may be an alternative choice for your child. Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative used in multi-dose vials. All of our seasonal flu vaccine is preservative free; however, most of the H1N1 vaccine contains thimerosal as a preservative.  The substantial risk of complications or death from influenza disease outweighs the unproven risk of vaccination with thimerosal-containing vaccine.

http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/h1n1/health_care_providers/guidance/2009-10-29_authorize_use_of_influenza_vaccine_containing_mercury.htm

Again, please be patient as we work through the list to contact everyone. The requests are numbered by the computer and we are calling families back in the order in which they were received.  Please do not call in to the office to check the status of your request.  Calling in only delays our ability to get you scheduled.