Seasonal and H1N1 Vaccine Update
As of December 20, 2009, Northeast Pediatrics has provided 1,139 doses of H1N1 influenza vaccine and an additional 3,700 doses of seasonal flu vaccines to patients of our practice. We are proud of our efforts despite the many obstacles and limitations that we faced, including vaccine shortages and recalls. We have done our very best to make vaccine available to as many of our patients as possible. We have truly appreciated the patience of our families during this often confusing and sometimes challenging H1N1 vaccination effort.
We are also proud of our staff at Northeast Pediatrics who have worked hard to field questions, schedule appointments, and administer available seasonal and H1N1 influenza vaccine tirelessly since September! Thank You for your dedication!
We are grateful for the hard work of the Tompkins County Health Department in providing over 4,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine over the past month at area schools and at Health Dept. Clinics. The Tompkins County Health Department will continue to administer H1N1 vaccine throughout the season as supply permits. Please check their website at http://www.tompkins-co.org/flu for clinics beginning in January 2010.
We continue to have difficulty obtaining both H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine, despite having placed new orders every week since October. Many of the children on our waiting list have by now received vaccine through their local health department or school system. Despite our best efforts, it has proven extremely difficult when vaccine does become available to identify the remaining patients on our list who have not yet received vaccine (we are currently having to make 40-50 phone calls to find each patient who remains eligible for vaccine).
Therefore, beginning January 1, 2010:
• Northeast Pediatrics will discontinue use of the waitlist for
vaccine.
• We will offer H1N1 and/or seasonal flu vaccine at routine
visits as available for patients who are eligible.
• Flu Vaccine Clinics will continue to be offered primarily on
Wednesday evening but may be expanded if supply permits We will
accept calls for Vaccine Clinic appointments during normal business
hours; Monday through Friday 7:30-4:00 pm.
Please take the time to read additional information regarding the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines as well as access our consent forms for vaccine administration.