Influenza Vaccine

Southdale Pediatrics is pleased to announce that we now have Flumist (“the nasal spray”) flu vaccine available for the 2010-2011 flu season.

Please note that Flumist is not used for children under two years of age, for those with asthma, for those who have a tendency for wheezing episodes, or for those with a variety of other chronic health conditions.  Other restrictions for the vaccine are reviewed on the consent form.

THE INJECTABLE INFLUENZA VACCINE (“FLU SHOT”) IS NOT YET AVAILABLE.  PLEASE CONTINUE TO WATCH OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ITS AVAILABILITY.

Appointments for flu vaccine may only be scheduled online.  You will need to use our online scheduling system to see if any appointments are available.  IF THE ONLINE SCHEDULING SYSTEM SHOWS NO DATES ARE AVAILABLE FOR AN APPOINTMENT OR IF THE SYSTEM DOES NOT ALLOW ACCESS TO APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING, THIS MEANS THAT NO APPOINTMENTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.  Please use online scheduling, if possible, to cancel your appointment if you no longer need it, so vaccine can be made available to others.  Please feel free to try again another time if you are unable to obtain the appointment you desire.   

For the 2010 - 2011 flu season, the flu vaccine contains protection against the H1N1 influenza strain which appeared last year as well as other likely influenza strains.  A separate H1N1 vaccine is not necessary this season.

If a child under 9 years of age is vaccinated, two doses of the vaccine are necessary the first year flu vaccine is given.  If a child under the age of 9 years did not receive at least two doses of seasonal flu vaccine before this season and at least one dose of H1N1 vaccine last year, two doses of flu vaccine will be required this year.

(The CDC has said, however, that a child who received H1N1 vaccine during the 2009-2010 season and who received seasonal influenza vaccine prior to the 2009-10 season flu season [apparently even just one dose] only needs one dose this season.  Here is a link to some information and a table released by the CDC to try to clarify this recommendation.  Your physician can help determine the number of doses required in difficult situations.)

Online scheduling is currently only available for flu vaccines. If you wish to schedule an appointment for any other vaccine please call our future appointments number.

If you are an established patient of Southdale Pediatrics, please click on the link below and you will be redirected to our online scheduling site.

Guidelines for Use of Online Scheduling Site

Dosing Guidance

Click Here to Schedule a Flu Vaccine

Last Updated: 8/17/10