The 2020-2021 INFLUENZA VACCINE IS AVAILABLE NOW

Dear Ohana,

The 2020-2021 Influenza vaccine has arrived and we have done a tremendous amount of work to ensure that we are safely providing flu vaccines this season.  We follow the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommendations that everyone 6 months of age and older get the flu vaccine this season.

WHAT HAS NOT CHANGED:

• We are committed that trained and qualified health professionals will be administering your child’s flu vaccine and all vaccines.
• We are committed that we will have enough slots in our schedule so that every child who needs a flu vaccine will get one this Fall until our flu vaccine allocation is exhausted.

WHAT IS NEW THIS FALL:

Because of the safety protocols we have implemented, how we administer flu vaccines will look different this year.  You can still receive the flu vaccine at the office during a regularly scheduled appointment.  If your child is only needing a flu vaccine you will have two choices. 

1)    We will have 10 dedicated flu vaccine appointment slots Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between                   3:45PM and 4:45PM.  You must schedule in advance. Walk-ins will not be possible due to Covid-19 precautions. We will be using your car and our waiting room with careful flow control so that we can comply with physical distancing and infection control.

2)   We will be offering a flu vaccine clinic on Saturdays in October from 8-10 AM beginning on October 3, 2020.   No appointment is needed.

• We ask that prior to receiving the flu vaccine you provide us with a current insurance card and confirm that you  have read the Vaccine Information Statement provided by the CDC for influenza vaccine.  The VIS for influenza is available at:
• https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/flu.pdf  (Inactivated/Injection)                 
• https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/flu.pdf  (Live/Nasal)

            Please also dress your child appropriately for receiving the flu vaccine, a short-sleeved shirt or top would be             greatly appreciated. 

Additional information concerning the 2020-2021 Flu season can be found at: www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm

If you have any questions concerning our flu vaccine plans for 2020-2021 please contact the office either by phone or via our patient portal and text messaging platforms.

Best regards,

Frank R. Baum, M.D. and staff

                                                                       Flu message from the CDC  (short video)