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It's Time for Influenza Vaccine!

Influenza season is right around the corner. Now that the kids are back in school and the weather will soon be getting a bit cooler, it's time to think again about the flu vaccine.

This year will be the same as last year. While there will still be the regular Seasonal Influenza (the usual flu illness that comes each year) as well as H1N1 Influenza causing illness, there will only be one vaccine that covers both seasonal as well as H1N1 influenza.

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as vaccine is available this fall. The 2012-2013 flu vaccine will protect against three different flu viruses: an influenza A virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season.

Seasonal Influenza 2012-2013
As in years past there are two types of influenza vaccine to choose from. The inactivated vaccine (the flu shot) and the nasal spray vaccine (Flumist). For a more complete discussion about these two vaccines click on the the highlighted links above.


It is especially important for household contacts and out-of-home care providers of all high-risk children and all healthy children under the age of 6 months to receive the influenza vaccine.

Please note:

Children under the age of 9 who will be receiving the influenza vaccine for the first time will need to receive 2 doses, 4 weeks apart for complete protection. Only one dose will be required yearly thereafter.

Children under the age of 9 who did not receive at least two doses of flu vaccine in the past two yeras will need 2 doses of the influenza vaccine this year for complete protection.


Influenza should not be taken lightly, as of mid-March 2010, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that about 59 million Americans contracted the H1N1 virus, 265,000 were hospitalized as a result, and 12,000 died (about 10% of the deaths were children)


As you can see, it is very important to consider immunizing everyone in the family for influenza, from your 6 month old to your college student.



Let's take a look at the excuses people give for not getting vaccinated:


" I never get the flu"  - each year you don't get influenza probably increases the odds of you getting it the next year.


"When I got the flu shot, it gave me the flu!" - This is a big fat lie. The flu shot is a killed (dead) virus - it can't give you the flu. Keep in mind there are many other viruses around in the winter that can give you flu-like symptoms. 


"I don't want a shot!" - For kids  2 and older, they can get the Flumist. No shot, same protection.


"Kids get too many vaccinations already" - Almost 1200 children died of influenza in 2009. The rate of hospitalization for children under age 2 with influenza is similar to that of the elderly!




Call us  to schedule the influenza vaccination for all your children. The best time to get the influenza vaccine is now!