Influenza Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions

Posted on: 11/20/2009

Influenza Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Does my physician recommend that my child receive the H1N1 and Seasonal Flu vaccines?
Answer: Yes, Complete Children’s Health physicians recommend that children receive both vaccines.

Question: Is the mist, or nasal spray, form of H1N1 vaccine recommended by my physician?
Answer: Yes, Complete Children’s Health physicians recommend that children who are medically able to receive mist are immunized with mist if it is available. Children with chronic illnesses should usually receive the shot, rather than the mist, form of the vaccine.

Question: I hear that seasonal flu vaccine is not available. Can I receive it for my child?
Answer: Manufacturers have been unable to distribute seasonal flu vaccine as ordered by physician offices this season, but we expect to receive the vaccine by the end of November. If you have a flu shot appointment scheduled, please plan to keep it unless we call you to tell you differently. We expect to have adequate vaccine to vaccinate all of our patients.

Question: Can I make an appointment for my child to receive seasonal flu vaccine?
Answer: We are scheduling seasonal flu vaccines in December and throughout the rest of the winter. We have been told by the manufacturer that there will be no more seasonal flu mist shipped this flu season. We have always vaccinated for seasonal flu well into the following Spring, as the seasonal flu season can last through Spring, so December and January are not too late.

Question: Does my child need a second dose of H1N1 vaccine?
Answer: If your child is under 10, he or she will need a second dose of H1N1 vaccine at least 28 days after the first one is given.

Question: Does my child need a second dose of seasonal flu vaccine?
Answer: If your child is under 9, and this is the first time he or she has received any seasonal flu vaccine, he or she will need a second dose of seasonal  flu vaccine at least 28 days after the first one is given.

Question: Can my child get the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines at the same time?
Answer: Yes. Two shots will be given, or, if available and medically appropriate, one shot and one mist dose. It does not matter whether it is the first or second dose.

Question: If my child received the mist form for the first dose, does he or she have to get the mist form for the second dose?
Answer: Children receiving their second dose of seasonal or H1N1 vaccine can be given a shot, even if they got mist for the first dose, and vice versa.

Question: I think my child may have had H1N1 already.  Should I still have them vaccinated?
Answer: If a child has presumed or confirmed H1N1 it is still recommended that they receive the vaccine.

Question: I have heard that my neighbor’s children have received H1N1 vaccine at their appointment, but they are not high risk patients.
Answer: Complete Children’s Health will give any available vaccine to both scheduled flu clinic patients and patients that are in the office for an appointment and meet the criteria to receive the vaccine. Our mission is to immunize as many children as possible.  This dual approach lets us reach as many children as possible as quickly as possible. If your child is in a high risk category, please call to schedule an appointment. If your child is not in a high risk category, continue to watch the website www.completechildrenshealth.com for updates about vaccine availability. We update the website frequently and will continue to offer as many available appointments as possible with the vaccine supply that we receive.

Question: What should I do if I still have questions about flu vaccine?
Answer: Excellent information is available for parents at  www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu, or call Complete Children’s Health and select the nurse option to discuss any further questions with one of our nurses.