A new study shows that parents can protect their infants from getting sick, by getting flu shots themselves. Over a thousand mothers and their infants on an Indian reservation were studied. Infants whose mothers received flu vaccines were 40% less likely to catch influenza themselves, and 40% less likely to be hospitalized for it. The [...]
The American Academy of Pediatrics has released professional TV and radio “spots”, encouraging parents to have their children vaccinated on time. The ads recall a time when many children were crippled or killed by contagious diseases. Grandparents hold their own young grandchildren, while talking about members of their own families who died or were crippled [...]
Rotarix vaccine has been found to contain an extraneous virus. Fortunately, the “extra” contaminant is unlikely to cause a problem. Rotarix vaccine protects babies from infection with Rotavirus, an intestinal virus causing vomiting and diarrhea which can be severe. Since the introduction of Rotarix (and a similal vaccine, RotaTeq, from another manufacturer), rates of infection [...]
A few parents are still asking about the safety of the H1N1 vaccine. Please be reassured! You and your children are much better off with the vaccine than without it. This is certainly not a “new” vaccine; the H1N1 vaccines are just like the regular seasonal vaccine, made by the same manufacturers, who use the [...]
We have received our next shipment of H1N1 vaccine. This batch is for infants and toddlers, younger than their 3rd birthday; it’s a shot, “without preservative.” I’ll offer it to infants and kids scheduled for their regular checkups, but you may call for an appointment just for the flu shot. We’ve only received 100 doses [...]
We received about 100 doses of the Swine Flu vaccine from the state last week, and they’re all spoken for. It’s a start, but it’s not enough! We are following the CDC’s instructions to give the vaccine to our high-risk patients first (those with cerebral palsy, persistent asthma, diabetes etc.). We have maintained a list [...]
Delaware’s schools are starting to sign up their students to receive Swine Flu vaccines. The schools don’t actually have vaccines in stock yet. (I’m sure the newspaper headlines will inform us when school vaccines are delivered!) But the schools are getting a jump on the paper work, making lists and getting parent’s permission to administer [...]
Currently, as of 10-20-09, we have “regular” seasonal flu vaccines in stock for ALL our patients. Our supply of flu shots for kids under age 2 (for commercial, non-Medicaid) insurance) had run out, but we’ve now received our back-order. If we were not able to give your child (under 2) seasonal flu vaccine because we [...]
Are you fearful of flu shots? Don’t be! You might have heard stories: “I got a flu shot once and I was never so sick!” This is absolutely an old wives tale. You cannot contract the flu from a flu shot; and getting a flu shot certainly protects you from getting influenza. Unfortunately some people [...]
The immediate spread of Swine Flu seems to be abating, but it’s likely to resurface in the fall. So far, Swine Flu hasn’t seemed very serious. Most cases have recovered fully; fewer than 500 people have died from it in the US so far this year. This is a remarkably low number, considering the high [...]
