At Roslindale Pediatrics, we highly recommend all of our patients 6 months and older receive the influenza vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine annually. Please check back here for updates on our recommendations and flu clinics.
Flu Info
We want to make sure our patients are well informed about the influenza virus and how to protect your children from it. Below are some links about the flu virus and the vaccine:
CDC Flu Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
Vaccine Clinics
Time to get your FLU shot and COVID-19 booster!
Roslindale Pediatric Associates will start providing Flu and COVID vaccine clinics this Fall starting Saturday October 14. These clinics will be held from 9:00am until 12:00pm in the back building (same location as covid clinics, behind our building towards EyeCare Associates and Billings Field).
IMPORTANT: This is the only opportunity for RPA patients under the age of 19 years of age to receive flu vaccines at our office other than during regularly scheduled yearly well visits. If you/your child is 19 years or older, we ask that you call the office to schedule the flu vaccine at a different time as it is a different vaccine supply.
If this is your child’s first year getting the flu shot, they will need 2 doses separated by a minimum of 4 weeks.
YOU MUST SCHEDULE FLU AND COVID VACCINES ON MYCHART.
Please follow the instructions below carefully to ensure the correct vaccines are administered.
FLU SHOT ONLY: If your child ONLY needs a flu shot, choose the option for flu shot on MyChart and follow the prompts.
COVID VACCINE ONLY: If you would like your child to get ONLY a covid vaccine, please choose the correct option for Covid-19 vaccine.
BOTH FLU AND COVID: If you would like your child to get BOTH a flu vaccine AND a covid vaccine, choose the option for covid-19 and type FLU vaccine in the comments section during the scheduling process when it asks you, “what is the most important thing you want addressed during this visit?” Please also review the covid vaccine reminders listed above.
-Remember, if your child has had a previous severe reaction to a covid vaccine, you will need to remain on-site for 15 minutes after the injection
-For ages 6 months through 4 years old, we will offer Pfizer Covid-19 Dose #1, Dose #2 or Dose #3 at these clinics (see below for timing of each dose).
-For ages 5 years and older, we will offer the most updated Pfizer vaccine.
-If you are unsure if you child is due for a covid vaccine, see guidelines below or review the immunization tab in MyChart for “care gaps”.
COVID-19 PFIZER VACCINE SCHEDULE
6 months to 4 years old
-3 dose series
-Dose 2 must be at least 3 weeks after dose 1
-Dose 3 must be at least 8 weeks from dose 2
5 and older
-1 dose of the most recent COVID19 vaccine is considered up to date
-If your child has recently had covid, we would recommend receiving the next dose close to the end of your 90 day immunity for best effect
If you are unsure if your child is due for flu vaccine or covid vaccine, you can review the immunization tab in MyChart for “care gaps”.
-We will NOT be able to accommodate any patients without appointments. This includes unscheduled siblings.
-Please utilize street parking and do not park in the RPA parking lot, as we will still be seeing patients in the office, and need to reserve the lot for them.
Thank you for your continued patience and understanding. Please do not be discouraged if you are unable to book a slot this week - we will continue having weekly clinics and will ensure that all patients who request a flu vaccine will receive one.
Many pharmacies also offer flu vaccines, please check their websites for availability and age restrictions if your schedule does not work with our flu clinics.
If your child receives a flu shot elsewhere, please send us a message so that we can update their EMR to reflect that the vaccine was completed.
Stay safe and healthy!
RSV Info
The RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a common cause of the common cold, but in children under 12 months, especially premature babies or babies with underlying conditions, it can lead to severe respiratory problems such as bronchiolitis, hypoxia, and reactive airway disease. For more information on the virus from the American Academy of Pediatrics, please click here.
We are very excited that there is now a new way to fight off the RSV virus in these younger patients. It is an antibody injection called Beyfortus, and it is recommended for all babies under 8 months, and high risk patients under 19 months. The one injection has been vigorously studied and should supply immunity for the entire RSV season throughout the winter. It has been shown to decrease office visits and hospitalizations by 80%, and it starts working right after the injection, unlike immunizations that generally take 2 weeks.
For more information from the CDC, click here to read the announcement for this new shot, and and click here for information about the shot including effectiveness and any risks.
The product safety information can be found here.
Beyfortus should be available in the nursery to give right after birth and it is currently available in our office to give at your baby’s next appointment. We will not be holding vaccine clinics for Beyfortus.
If you have any further questions about this new option to fight off a common cause of respiratory problems in babies, you can always call us or message us.
