2014 Influenza Vaccine Update

2014 Influenza Vaccine Update

Wheaton Pediatrics encourages flu vaccination annually and believes that all vaccines play an important role in your child’s healthcare.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all people age 6 months and older receive the flu vaccine each year.

 

Our office is adequately supplied with the live intranasal flu vaccine, FluMist. 

Children who are healthy and are 2 years of age and older can receive this nasal spray formulation at this time.  If you would like your child to receive this vaccine, please call for an appointment in one of our flu clinics.

 

Some children and adolescents should not receive FluMist vaccine.  If your child has asthma/wheezing, chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, or metabolic disorders, is immune suppressed or lives with someone else that is immune suppressed, or if your child is allergic to eggs, they cannot receive the FluMist vaccine.  These children will need to receive the injectable flu vaccine which is anticipated to be made available as described below.

 

This year many flu vaccine suppliers have announced significant nationwide delays in their shipments of flu vaccines to physician offices.  We have been informed by our main supplier that delays will be expected on our deliveries, and that deliveries of preservative free influenza vaccine are not anticipated until late October or early November.  Quantities may also be restricted to us at that time.

 

We will have available injectable influenza vaccine containing trace amounts of thimerosol preservative will below acceptable limits set by the EPA and FDA.

 

Please continue to check our website and Facebook page for updated information on this issue.  Thank you for your patience and understanding in this situation, and entrusting us in your child’s care and well being.