Vaccine Update - December 18, 2009
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Positive Prevention Measures
Healthcare workers are mandated to not report to work for a minimum of 7 days from onset of symptoms at minimum. During this flu season, we ask that you understand you may not be able to see your established PCP due to illness. We will offer alternatives for you in seeking medical care. If you still have further questions, please feel free to contact your PCP office for further updates and or advice. |
H1N1 vaccine update
Mercy Medical Group continues to receive a variety of types of H1N1 vaccine that we are immediately sharing with patients who wish to be vaccinated. The staff at each of our locations is reviewing the patient waiting list that had been created and contacting those patients. If you would like to receive an H1N1 vaccination, and/or be vaccination against the seasonal flu, please contact your doctor’s office to schedule a time to do so.
In adherence to the CDC guidelines, we are encouraging a second dose of vaccine for our pediatric patients, ages 6 months to 10 years, who have so far had one dose of the vaccine.
How many doses of H1N1 vaccine are required?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of one dose of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine for people 10 years of age and older. For children younger than 10 years of age, two doses of the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine is needed. This is slightly different from CDC’s recommendations for seasonal influenza vaccination which states that children younger than 9 years who are being vaccinated against influenza for the first time need to receive two doses. Infants younger than 6 months are too young to get the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines.
Update on seasonal flu vaccine
Mercy Medical Group has received more seasonal flu vaccine and we are able to offer it to our patients. If you need to receive a seasonal flu shot, please contact your doctor’s office to schedule a time to receive the vaccination.
