Flu Vaccine Clinic

2023 Drive-Thru Flu Vaccine Clinic

*ESTABLISHED PATIENTS ONLY – NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED –  REQUIREMENTS LISTED BELOW*

Saturday, September 16th, 2023 from 1pm–3pm
Sunday, September 17th, 2023 from 10am–noon
Saturday, September 23rd, 2023 from 1pm-3pm *Happy Bottoms Drive
Sunday, September 24th, 2023 from 10am-noon *Happy Bottoms Drive
*Happy Bottoms Drive: We will be collecting any/all sizes of diapers for Happy Bottoms donations. Bring diapers and drop them off while in line for your flu shot!
Saturday, October 7th, 2023 from 1pm–3pm
Sunday, October 8th, 2023 from 10am–12pm
Saturday, October 14th, 2023 from 1pm–3pm **Harvesters Drive
Sunday, October 15th, 2023 from 10am–noon **Harvesters Drive
**Harvesters Drive: We will be collecting canned goods/food and household products during this flu clinic. Bring your donations to drop off while in line for your flu shot! QR code shows a list of needed items. View the HARVESTERS ‘MOST NEEDED ITEMS’  list for donation ideas.
Saturday, October 21st, 2023 from 1pm-3pm 
Sunday, October 22nd, 2023 from 10am–noon
Saturday, October 28th, 2023 from 1pm-3pm
Saturday, November 4th, 2023 from 1pm – 3pm ***Toys for Tots Drive
***Toys for Tots Drive: We will be collecting toys for the holidays during this flu clinic. Bring your donations to drop off while in line for your flu shot! QR code shows a list of needed items.
 

 

REQUIREMENTS

Patients must follow all requirements of the clinic. If you arrive at the clinic and the requirements are not met, you may be asked to get out of line and finish the needed requirements before joining the line again.


1. FLU VACCINE CONSENT FORM* A PDF version of the Flu Vaccine consent form is provided below. It must be printed, signed, and brought with you to the flu clinic to receive any vaccine or mist. 

Flu Vaccine Consent Form

*CONSENT FORMS ARE REQUIRED TO RECEIVE THE FLU VACCINE/MIST


 

2. CLINIC GUIDELINES Please review all flu vaccine clinic guidelines (listed below) prior to your visit.  An influenza vaccine FAQ is provided below as well.

  • Flu clinics are for the administration of flu vaccines only. If you have questions re your child’s health, or if your child is needing any other vaccines, please call the office.
  • Flu vaccines will be given at scheduled appointments or the flu clinics. If your child is coming in for a well-child visit, it will be given at that time, and you may bring siblings along as well. We will not schedule flu shot appointments outside of these already scheduled appointments or clinic dates.
  • We will have many flu clinics Sept-Dec. Please be patient, as the clinic dates will be posted as the vaccine becomes available. It is optimal to get your flu vaccine by the end of October, but we usually are giving it thru March or until flu season is over. So far this year, there does not seem to be any delay in shipping or shortage of supply.
  • Please read the Vaccine Information Statements for flu vaccines. It is recommended that all kids 6mo and older get a flu shot unless there is a history of anaphylaxis to the flu vaccine. Flumist is available, in limited supply, for kids 2yo+. Flumist should not be given, however, if your child has asthma/has asthma action plan/requires controller meds. If your child is 9yo or under, and this is the first year he/she is getting a flu vaccine, it is recommended to get 2 doses, a minimum of 4 wks apart.
  • You MUST have the consent form completed and signed when you arrive at the drive-thru clinic. The consent form can be downloaded from the website, Shawneemissionpediatrics.com
  • It is helpful, but not required, for 2 parents/adults to be in the car, one to drive and another to help with the child.
  • All persons 2yo+ must be wearing a mask, even in the car, when you arrive at the drive-thru.
  • Kids 5yo or younger need to be wearing shorts, as vaccines will be given in the thigh.
  • Kids 6yo or older need to be wearing short sleeve shirts, as vaccines will be given in the arm.
  • No pets in the car.
  • All persons in the car must be fever-free for the past 24hrs.
  • All persons in the car must not have had a positive covid test within the past 14 days.
  • All persons in the car must not have a covid test pending.
  • Drive-thru dates and hours: Weekends late Sept thru Oct. Check the website often for updates, as more clinics will be added in Nov/Dec as needed.
  • The line starts under the canopy of the parking lot of the Gateway Bldg.
  • This is a new process for us….please be patient as we figure out how best to provide this service within the constrictions of the pandemic.

FAQ: INFLUENZA VACCINE

Do we recommend the flu vaccine? ALWAYS

All children over the age of 6 months should get the flu vaccine. Especially this year. Influenza kills 50,000-70,000 people every single year and that is with a vaccine and antivirals. 188 children died from the flu last season. NO child should ever die from something we can prevent.

What is influenza or the flu?

Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. Influenza (flu) can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Flu is different from a cold. Flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms: fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue (tiredness), some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

Is the flu shot 100% effective against the flu?

Unfortunately not, but it makes it a much milder illness and reduces the risk of complications like secondary bacterial pneumonia, and ear infections. It dramatically reduces the risk of hospitalization and death in children. A flu shot is like wearing a seat belt in the car – it doesn’t guarantee that no injuries will occur, but it does greatly reduces the risk.

Can my child get the flu from the flu shot? NO

We give the inactivated flu vaccine and the live attenuated FluMist. Neither vaccine can give you influenza. It is possible to have an immune reaction that causes achiness and low-grade fever, similar to your child’s other vaccine, but the good news is that means your body is creating good protection against the flu!

FluMist vs. Flu Vaccine?

Both vaccines are being recommended this year, without one vaccine being preferred over another.

Flumist is an attenuated live virus vaccine. The virus has been changed so it is no longer infectious.

The flu shot has particles designed to look like the flu virus to induce antibodies to the flu.

NEITHER VACCINE CAN CAUSE THE FLU.

As with the flu shot, the effectiveness of Flumist will vary from year to year. This is because it includes the flu strains that are predicted to be circulating, and nature has a way of thwarting the best guesses of the experts. But they continue to work towards an effective vaccine for each flu season.

Flumist side effects include nasal congestion, fever, sore throat, fatigue, and muscle aches.

Flu shot side effects include redness and swelling at the injection site, fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches.

Those who must avoid Flumist include:

  • Children younger than 2 years
  • Adults 50 years and older
  • People with a history of severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of the vaccine or to a previous dose of any
  • influenza vaccine
  • Children 2 years through 17 years old who are receiving aspirin- or salicylate-containing medications.
  • Children 2 years through 4 years old who have asthma or who have had a history of wheezing in the past 12 months
  • People with weakened immune systems (immunosuppression) from any cause
  • People who care for severely immunocompromised persons who require a protected environment (or otherwise
  • avoid contact with those persons for 7 days after getting the nasal spray vaccine)
  • People without a spleen, or with a non-functioning spleen
  • Pregnant women
  • People with an active leak between the cerebrospinal fluid and the mouth, nose, ear, or another place within the skull
  • People with cochlear implants
  • People who have taken flu antiviral drugs within the previous 48 hours for oseltamivir and zanamivir, previous 5 days for peramivir, and previous 17 days for baloxavir.

How many doses of the flu vaccine should my child get?

Some children 6 months to 8 years old require two doses of flu vaccine for adequate protection from flu. Children in this age group getting vaccinated for the first time, and those who have only previously gotten one dose of vaccine, should get two doses of vaccine this season—spaced at least 4 weeks apart.

Does flu vaccine work right away?

No. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection.