Toddlers are in the high risk group and should be getting the seasonal flu shot, but it may be a while before you can get one. Pediatrics Guide Dr. Iannelli says:
"Unfortunately, we are already seeing delays for seasonal flu vaccines in many doctor's offices and clinics. Two major vaccine manufacturers have stated that they will not be shipping any more seasonal flu vaccine to doctors until November. This will likely mean that many kids will not be able to get a seasonal flu vaccine yet."
Contact your doctor and find out if they've got any of the vaccine still available or check with other sources like your county health clinic, urgent care clinics like CareNow or your neighborhood pharmacy. Our family doctor recently ran out, but luckily there's a Walgreen's just around the corner that still has some available.
As for the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine, those are arriving in doctor's offices now and, again, toddlers are in the high risk group and it's recommended they get the vaccination. Most cases of the flu that are going around currently are H1N1 cases rather than seasonal flu so it's a good idea to get this vaccine sooner than later if you can.
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Walgreens as a source? You have got to be kidding. I would pay them anything if they would give it to my son, but they can’t. My pediatrician, who is a member of a huge medical network, can’t get the flu shot in. But every pharmacy in town has it, and WON’T give it to my toddler, who has asthma, because of age restrictions. Everyone in the family has received the shot, except the person who needs it the most. This infuriates and saddens me to no end. We are still trying to find someone who has it in and can give it to him. So much for those who need it the most having access.
FYI — We went as a family to the CVS minute clinic to get our seasonal flu shots — the doctors office is OUT of them till late October — and I was told that they could not vaccinate my 25 month old daughter. CVS has a policy that they will not give the shot to anyone under the age of 9!!!
I have Lupus (an immune disorder), two 5 month old boys, AND a spouse that teaches 200 8th graders a day. There have already been confirmed cases of the H1N1 at his middle school, about 20% of the student body is out sick.
My family is not a candidate for the nasal spray vaccine since it is a live virus (Lupus and the age of the children in the house hold) and the only injection vaccines have been given to the health care workers. Why not give the health care workers the nasal sprays since it is available and save the injections for those that can’t have the live virus??
I’m past the point of worrying b/c there is absolutely nothing I can do.
Mom in Oregon
I called Target Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy, and Rite Aid Pharmacy if they give flu shots for babies. And they all told me no. I had to call all these pharmacies if they give flu shots to babies because my baby’s, (he is almost 15 months), pediatrician doesn’t have the vaccines yet for children 3 and under.
So I have to keep calling the pediatrican’s office every Tuesday to see if they have the vaccines for babies.
Luckily my other son who is 3 got a flu shot last month before they ran out the vaccines at the pediatrician’s office. But last week he got a fever and this weekend he’s coughing. So……….isn’t the flu shot suppose to be kicking in by now? Go Figure.