Flu Vaccines

Mail List: sign up for the Mesquite Pediatrics Flu Vaccine Mailing List to receive updates on the flu and on flu vaccine availability. CLICK HERE

Flu vaccines are now available for the 2011-2012 flu season. It is not too late to be vaccinated as it appears the flu season will be coming late this year. If your child has not been vaccinated, please call us as soon as possible to set up an appointment.

Flu vaccination is now recommended for all people 6 months of age and older. This year, there appears to be no shortage of vaccine so we hope to get as many of our patients vaccinated as possible.

The flu vaccine is offered in injectable and nasal spray forms. Unfortunately we have run out of the nasal spray form, so only the injectable will be available for the remainder of the season. (The nasal spray form is for patients 2 years or older. It cannot be given to patients under 5 years of age who have had wheezing or asthma in the past year or to patients over 5 who have asthma that is not in very good control. It also cannot be given to many children with a chronic illness. Click HERE to see more information on who can and can't get the nasal spray form.)

Those who are at highest risk from the flu (and therefore for whom we most strongly recommend the vaccine) are:

	children aged 6 months to 5 years;
	children and adolescents who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and, therefore, 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 disorders of the pulmonary or cardiovascular systems, including asthma (hypertension is not considered a high-risk condition);
	adults and children who have required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes mellitus), renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies, or immunodeficiency (including immunodeficiency caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]);
	adults and children who have any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders) that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration;
	residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities that house persons of any age who have chronic medical conditions; and
	persons aged >65 years.

Also, a flu vaccine is strongly recommended for any household contact of any of the people listed above and for anyone who works in health care.

Children under 9 years of age who did not receive at least 1 dose of flu vaccine last year are recommended to get 2 doses this year, at least 4 weeks apart.