Flu Shots
The exact number of doses of flu shots for the upcoming flu season remains unknown, but with four manufacturers providing flu shots this year, there will hopefully be enough to go around. And to make sure, a contingency plan is in place and the CDC is already recommending that only certain priority groups receive flu shots before October 24, 2005, including:- persons aged 65 years and older, with and without chronic health conditions
- residents of long-term care facilities
- persons aged 2-64 years with chronic health conditions
- children aged 6-23 months
- pregnant women
- health-care personnel who provide direct patient care
- household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children aged less than 6 months
According to the CDC, 'beginning October 24, 2005 , all persons will be eligible for vaccination,' although I'm guessing this will change if there ends up being a shortage for some reason.
And remember that although October or November is the best time to get vaccinated against the flu, you can still get vaccinated later. The longer you wait, the better your chance of getting the flu though.
Also remember that many people are going to remember the problems getting flu shots last year and many doctor's offices are going to have a hard time getting kids shots in so short a time, so plan early for when your child can get his flu shot.
RSV
It doesn't get as much attention as the flu, but RSV season is coming too, and RSV season usually runs from about October to May in most parts of the United States.For many parents, RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, means a simple cold. But for some younger children and especially premature babies, it can be a life-threatening infection. These children might get wheezing, difficulty breathing, apnea, pneumonia, and may need to be hospitalized.
Although no RSV vaccine is available yet, fortunately there is a preventative antibody shot, Synagis, that can be given to high risk children each month during RSV season. If your baby or infant is at high risk for complications from RSV, be sure to ask if you need to arrange for Synagis injections.
High risk children might include:
- Children less than two years of age with chronic lung disease.
- Premature infants who were born at less than 28 weeks and who are less than twelve months old at the start of RSV season (October to May).
- Premature infants who were born between 29-32 weeks and who are less than six months old at the start of RSV season.
- Premature infants who were born between 32-35 weeks and who are less than six months old at the start of RSV season and who have other risk factors, such as multiple births, exposure to passive smoking, day care attendance, sharing a bedroom with a sibling, having a sibling that attends school.
