We now have received the remainder of our Seasonal Flu vaccine for people of all ages who are our patients. It's not too late to get the seasonal flu vaccine, as the "season" hasn't really started here in Rochester.
You can call 225-1700 to schedule an appointment for seasonal flu vaccine.
Seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for people over the age of 50, pregnant women, and adults with chronic medical problems such as diabetes, asthma or other lung diseases, heart, liver, or kidney disease, cancer, or neurological conditions. Seasonal flu vaccine is also recommended for children over 6 months of age, and family members or caretakers of children under 6 months.
H1N1 (Swine flu) vaccine, updated 12/17/09
We have received shipments of H1N1 vaccine, in Flumist (nasal spray), injectable, and preservative-free formulations. Now that the supply of vaccine is easing up, we can offer H1N1 vaccine to our patients of all ages, not just those in the highest risk groups. We are not able to offer immunizations to people who are not our patients at this time.
You can call 225-1700 to schedule an appointment for the H1N1 vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine can be given at the same time. Children under the age of 10 should get 2 doses of H1N1 vaccine, about 4 weeks apart, for full protection.
Flumist is appropriate for healthy people aged 2 through 49, who have not received Flumist, MMR, or Varivax within the past 4 weeks. Pregnant women or people with medical conditions such as asthma or diabetes should get the injectable vaccine.
Recalled Vaccine: Some doses of the H1N1 vaccine packaged for children under the age of 3 years have been recalled due to a slight decrease in potency during storage. This small decrease in potency is not likely to result in a ny decrease in effectiveness. We were using one of the recalled lots between December 7 and December 15 in infants and toddlers only. In our patients, only one of the two recommended lots could have been from this lot. If your infant received the first dose of H1N1 vaccine here between December 7 and December 15, be sure to return for the second dose. If your child received the second dose between December 7 and December 15, no further action is needed.
You can also call our flu vaccine hotline for updated information (225-1700, option 7).
Seasonal Influenza Vaccines 2009-2010
As per recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control, we recommend getting the the flu vaccine yearly from September - March if you:
Are age 6 months up to 19 years
Are pregnant
Are 50 years old or older
Have a chronic medical condition such as asthma, diabetes, or heart, kidney or lung disease
Have a weakened immune system such as from medications or HIV infection
Are a resident of a nursing home or other long term care facility
Are a child care worker or health care worker or live with or care for someone at high risk of complications from the flu
Why should you get the flu vaccine?
1. To reduce your risk of getting the flu. The flu virus causes illness in millions of people each year causing them to miss work or school. Even worse, the flu virus contributes to hospitalization and death in hundreds of thousands of people each year. Small children and elderly are particularly susceptible to becoming very ill. 2. To reduce the chances of spreading the flu to others. The flu virus spreads rapidly and often will affect entire families, classrooms of children, and people at high risk of becoming very sick from the flu virus.
FLUMIST
Live attenuated Influenza vaccine
Flumist is intermittently available at the office for the H1N1 Flu.Flumist is not appropriate for everyone and is a good alternative for healthy children and young adults.If you are interested in obtaining Flumist please review the checklist below to see if you are able to receive the vaccine and call the office at 225-1700 to schedule an appointment if you wish to receive the vaccine.
Are you between the ages of 2 and 49 years if so you may receive Flumist.
If you have asthma or are a child between the ages of 2 to 4 and have had an episode of wheezing in the last year you may not receive Flumist.
If you have COPD or other lung disease, diabetes, chronic disease (heart, liver or kidney), or neurologic disorder (such as cerebral palsy, MS, ALS or injury affecting mobility, breathing or swallowing) you may not receive Flumist.
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the next month you may not receive Flumist
If you have ever had a severe reaction to flu vaccine such as Guillian-Barre syndrome you may not receive Flumist.
If you are allergic to eggs (get hives when you eat eggs) you may not receive Flumist.
Have you had a live viral vaccine (MMR, Varivax (chickenpox) or Flumist) in the last 30 days if so you may not receive Flumist.
If you are immunocompromised or in contact with an immunocompromised individual (on cancer treatment, steroids, HIV disease or had an organ transplant) may not receive Flumist.
If you are a child or teenager on chronic aspirin therapy may not receive Flumist.
If you are insured by MVP through XEROX you need to be preauthorized by calling 325-3114.
Medications to Help Lessen Symptoms of the Flu
Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist for correct, safe use of medications
Antiviral medications can sometimes help lessen influenza symptoms, but require a prescription. Most people do not need these antiviral drugs to fully recover from the flu. However, persons at higher risk for severe flu complications, or those with severe flu illness who require hospitalization, might benefit from antiviral medications. Antiviral medications are available for persons 1 year of age and older. Ask your health care provider whether you need antiviral medication.
Influenza infections can lead to or occur with bacterial infections. Therefore, some people will also need to take antibiotics. More severe or prolonged illness or illness that seems to get better, but then gets worse again may be an indication that a person has a bacterial infection. Check with your health care provider if you have concerns.
Warning! Do not give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to children or teenagers who have the flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.
Check ingredient labels on over-the-counter cold and flu medications to see if they contain aspirin.
Children 5 years of age and older and teenagers with the flu can take medicines without aspirin, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®), to relieve symptoms.
Children younger than 4 years of age should NOT be given over-the-counter cold medications without first speaking with a health care provider.
The safest care for flu symptoms in children younger than 2 years of age is using a cool-mist humidifier and a suction bulb to help clear away mucus.
Fevers and aches can be treated with acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
Over-the-counter cold and flu medications used according to the package instructions may help lessen some symptoms such as cough and congestion. Importantly, these medications will not lessen how infectious a person is.
Check the ingredients on the package label to see if the medication already contains acetaminophen or ibuprofen before taking additional doses of these medications—don’t double dose! Patients with kidney disease or stomach problems should check with their health care provider before taking any NSAIDS.
Check with your health care provider or pharmacist if you are taking other over-the-counter or prescription medications not related to the flu.
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When to Seek Emergency Medical Care
Get medical care right away if the sick person at home:
has difficulty breathing or chest pain
has purple or blue discoloration of the lips
is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down
has signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, absence of urination, or in infants, a lack of tears when they cry
has seizures (for example, uncontrolled convulsions)
is less responsive than normal or becomes confused
How Flu Spreads
The main way that influenza viruses are thought to spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled through the air and deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Influenza viruses may also be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or an object and then touches their own mouth or nose (or someone else’s mouth or nose) before washing their hands.
People with 2009 H1N1 flu who are cared for at home should:
check with their health care provider about any special care they might need if they are pregnant or have a health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or emphysema
check with their health care provider about whether they should take antiviral medications
keep away from others as much as possible. This is to keep from making others sick. Do not go to work or school while ill
stay home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone, except to seek medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
get plenty of rest
drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated
cover coughs and sneezes. Wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub
wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – when sharing common spaces with other household members to help prevent spreading the virus to others. This is especially important if other household members are at high risk for complications from influenza.
be watchful for emergency warning signs (see below) that might indicate you need to seek medical attention.
Evening hours
Appointments are now available until 7:45pm Monday - Thursday.
