SWINE FLU (H1N1) VACCINE AVAILABILITY

Beach Pediatrics has received limited quantities of the multi-dose inactivated H1N1 vaccine (which does contain trace amounts of Thimerisol as a preservative) as well as the Flumist (live attenuated H1N1 vaccine). We hope to receive the preservative-free H1N1 inactivated vaccine for children 6-35 months of age as early as next week.
As the amounts of vaccine we have received so far are limited we are going to prioritize our vaccinating to those children with underlying medical conditions (asthma, heart disease, etc.) first. Healthy children without egg allergy who are older than 2 years may receive the Flumist vaccine, and/or can be scheduled to receive the inactivated after we have vaccinated the children with underlying conditions.

Babies between 6 and 35 months can now receive the preservative free vaccine as we have just received our shipment.

Those children who received the Seasonal Flumist (the intra-nasal vaccine) must wait 1 month before getting the H1N1 Flumist (intra-nasal) but may get the inactivated H1N1 (shot) anytime. The inactivated seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 flu shots may be given together.

Children under 9 years of age will require 2 doses of either the inactivated or the intra-nasal vaccines (just like the first time they got the seasonal flu shot).

Children older than 10 years will only require one dose of either H1N1 vaccine.

Newest NY State Department of Health recommendations regarding H1N1 vaccination of pregnant women and children 6 months to 5 years of age