Tag Archive for: Flu

I often have parents tell me that they vaccinate against the flu because they don’t want sniffles, fevers, and body slowing down their family. This is certainly a valid reason for receiving the flu shot, but it’s important to remember that the flu bundled-up-smaller
can be much more than an uncomfortable inconvenience; each year thousands of lives are lost to flu-related illnesses. The best form of protection, which has proven itself effective year after year, is the flu vaccine.

 

During the 2014-2015 flu season, the flu shot prevented an estimated 1.9 million flu-related illnesses and 67,000 flu-related hospitalizations (CDC). Flu can also lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, or make chronic health problems, like asthma or bronchiolitis, worse. We’re making an extra effort at the practice this year to encourage all of our asthma patients to receive the vaccine, because exacerbating breathing difficulty is not something to be taken lightly.

 

A flu vaccine doesn’t just help protect you- it also helps protect those around you like seniors, babies younger than 6 months who cannot receive the vaccine, and immunocompromised children who are more vulnerable to the flu. This concept, called “herd immunity,” means that you are taking proactive steps toward protecting your health and the health of our community.

 

There are two ways that you and your family can receive the flu shot at our offices: during a regular appointment, or at a flu clinic. If you find yourself in the office for a well exam or a non-fever related reason, you can simply tell the nurse that you’d also like a flu shot before you leave. Alternatively, we have 4 flu clinic dates in which you can bring your whole family (parents, grandparents, your older child who is home from college) for a quick and easy poke. This year’s flu clinics will be held:

 

September
Saturday 9/24 –Coppell Office, 9:00am-2:00pm
Thursday 9/29 –Flower Mound Office, 4:00-7:00pm

 

October
Saturday 10/15 -Coppell Office, 9:00am-2:00pm
Thursday 10/20 -Flower Mound Office, 4:00-7:00pm
Saturday 10/29 -Coppell Office, 9:00am-2:00pm

 

November
Thursday 11/3 -Flower Mound Office, 4:00pm-7:00pm
Saturday 11/5 -Coppell Office, 9:00am-2:00pm
Thursday 11/10 -Flower Mound Office, 4:00-7:00pm

 

The flu vaccine is the single best way to help protect yourself and your family members from getting the flu. Be sure you and your loved ones get vaccinated against the flu this year every year.

Have you heard? The FluMist wont be available for the 2016-2017 flu season, meaning that everyone will need to get the shot. Dr. Fitzgerald explains this decision and affirms why you and your family should receive the flu vaccine this year.

Transcript:

Dr. Fitzgerald: Hi, I’m Ralph Fitzgerald. I’m one of the doctors at MD Pediatrics, and today I’d like to briefly talk about the upcoming flu season. 

FluMist Update: Only shots available this flu season.

Dr. Fitzgerald: As some of you probably already know, the CDC has recommended not using the nasal flu vaccine this year due to its poor performance last year and concerns that the same would happen this year. This is very unfortunate for our patients who have gotten used to using the FluMist for their annual flu vaccine. However, I would like to stress that the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the doctors at MD Pediatrics strongly recommend getting the flu vaccine for all patients over 6 months of age unless there is a medical indication for them not to receive the vaccine.  

It should be noted that the CDC had no concerns over the efficacy of the injectable dead vaccine, and this vaccine has been tried and true for many years.

Every year the flu kills thousands of Americans, and unfortunately the young and the elderly are affected the most. The flu shot is your family’s best protection at preventing the flu and possible hospitalization from its complications.

Thank you for your time, and look for updates from us concerning availability of the flu vaccine and flu clinics.