Disease Activity and Immunization Update

For the second consecutive week, both nationally and locally the people seen in offices with a flu like illness has declined. Great news but not a reason to let down our guard against the disease. Although the numbers have shown a decline, the total amount still present is still far greater then any flu season in recent memory. Please continue to protect your children and have them immunized. Even if your child has had what we feel is H1N1, there is NO way to be completely sure and that child should still receive the immunization. If indeed your child has had the disease then a competent immune system should establish natural protection to H1N1 BUT I can not over emphasize the need to be SURE and get that vaccine anyway. The only patients exempt from getting the vaccine are those early cases back in the summer that were tested through the state or CDC and had PCR (DNA) testing which is a test that took a week to return. I would say that that would not have been more then a handful in our practice. The rapid test done in the lab on the health campus is not the DNA test and even if positive for Flu A, then still get them vaccinated.


Both forms of the H1N1 vaccine are still available. There is no benefit of one form versus the other. We basically get whatever the CDC sends us. We received two forms of the injectable vaccine. One that is tested down to 6 months of age which is a multidose vial and does contain thimerosal as a preservative. The other is approved for children 4 and over and is single dose prefilled syringes and does not contain thimerosal. We continue to get questions regarding thimerosal but we remain committed to ry to show and demonstrate to you that the thimerosal has been well documented as safe and NOT a cause of any delays in development. The scientific evidence is in and the final conclusion reached. Thimerisol is safe.

We are anxiously awaiting return of the seasonal vaccine. We have a lot of catching up to do in getting everyone immunized with that vaccine as well. Our next clinic scheduled is the first weekend in December. We will add additional times to that clinic where the seasonal vaccine will be available. Stay tuned to this blog and those times will be posted once the seasonal vaccine arrives.