Utah Valley Pediatrics strives to keep parents up to date on the latest health topics and advisories. Our newsletter covers medicine changes and news, pediatric news, seasonal and age specific topics and what's new at Utah Valley Pediatrics.
Archives
Fall 2009
Vol. 3 Issue 3
Medicine Changes and News
Pediatric News
Your Child May Need a Hib Booster Vaccine — Check With Your Doctor
Research Shows Overweight Children at Risk for Heart Disease
Seasonal and Age Specific
Do You Know Your Child's Teacher?
Is Your Child a Student or a Pack Animal?
What to Do When Your Child is the Bully
Have You Ever Heard of Binge Eating Disorder?
Prescriptions — Keeping them straight and making them work for your children
Study Sees an Increase in Teen Abuse of ADHD Drugs
Contacts
Kevin Moffitt
Administrator
801-373-8930
Katie Jenkins
HR Manager
801-373-8930
Quick Links
Flu Shots: Are They Worth It?
Sometimes it can be a huge ordeal to bring your child in for a flu shot. But any parent who has stayed up all night with a sick child will tell you the hassle is absolutely worth it. Not only does the immunization provide protection from the flu, but it also protects against a number of potentially serious and fatal complications. Each year, influenza kills 36,000 people and more than 200,000 have to be hospitalized.
Flu season is around the corner, so call your pediatrician for an appointment to come in for a flu shot. In the meantime, here's what you need to know about flu shots.
When to Get Your Flu Shot
Health officials strongly recommend that parents bring their children in as early as September for their flu vaccination. It takes the body about two weeks after vaccination to develop the antibodies that protect against the flu, so you want to make sure you get in before the first influenza outbreak.
Who Should Get a Flu Shot
Anyone who wants to avoid the flu can get vaccinated, but it is especially important for those who are high risk, which include children from six months to 19 years old, pregnant women, those with a chronic medical condition, people 50 years old or older, and people who provide care for those who are high risk.
How Flu Shots Work
Every year scientists predict which will most likely be the three main flu strains that flu season. A vaccine is then created that causes antibodies to develop that can provide protection against those strains. While sometimes other strains may surface, the vaccine can still make your flu symptoms milder and help prevent complications.
The More the Merrier
Flu vaccines work best when a high percentage of people in the community have been vaccinated. Not only does the flu have fewer people to spread to, but it also protects those who are at high risk and aren't able to receive a flu shot — like babies under six months old.
Who Should Not Get a Flu Shot
You should not be vaccinated if:
- You have a severe allergy to chicken eggs
- You have had a serious reaction to a flu shot before
- You have Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
- You are less than 6 months of age
- You are currently sick with a moderate-to-severe illness; wait until you are better to get vaccinated
For the Faint of Heart
There are actually two types of flu vaccines — the traditional flu shot and FluMist. If you don't like the idea of needles, FluMist might be a good option for you. It is a nasal-spray flu vaccine that contains a live, weakened flu virus. FluMist is generally recommended for healthy people ages 2 to 49, not including pregnant women.
Vaccine Side Effects
The flu shot can sometimes cause soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was administered, as well as a low-grade fever and aches. FluMist's potential side effects include a runny nose, wheezing, headache, vomiting, muscle aches, and fever. Side effects for both flu vaccines typically last for only one or two days.
The Swine Flu
This year, public health officials are recommending at least two vaccines, the regular seasonal flu vaccine and the novel H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine. It is important to get the regular flu vaccine early because we anticipate a rush for the novel H1N1 vaccine, which is expected to come out in late September to mid-October.
For More Information:
2009-10 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Updates (CDC)
Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine (CDC)
CDC: Flu Vaccine Now Recommended for School-Age Kids and Teens, Too (Kids Health)
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