Flu Vaccines

Center City Pediatrics will be offering flu shots starting in late September this year. Getting an annual flu vaccine is the first and best way to protect child from the flu. Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations. The more people who get vaccinated, the more people will be protected from flu, including older people, very young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions who are more vulnerable to serious flu complications.

New in 2019/2020 – NO MORE FLU CLINICS!

This year we have redesigned our capacity to allow our patients to have scheduled appointments for their flu shots. Obviously, the easiest time to receive the flu vaccine is when you are here for your regularly scheduled well visit appointment. For children who are not scheduled for a well visit during the fall/winter season when we offer flu shots, we have created times for specialized flu shot appointments. We have added late afternoon, evening, and weekend appointment times and added staff specifically for these flu shot appointments.

Self-scheduling appointments are no longer available for flu shots, but it’s not too late to receive the vaccine. Please contact the office directly (Center City – 215.735.5600 and Bala Cynwyd – 610.257.9000) to schedule your visit.

In Center City, flu shot appointments will be available on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. In Bala, times are available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Sundays. Please make separate appointments for each child that needs a flu vaccine.

As a reminder, children 6 months to 8 years who are receiving the flu vaccine for the first time will need a booster dose 1 month apart to be fully protected. Children under 6 months of age are not permitted to get the flu vaccine. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children receive their flu vaccine as early as possible to maximize protection before flu season typically begins.

A few details about flu vaccinations at CCP:

• All parents will be asked a series of questions to ensure that it is safe to give your child the flu vaccine at the time of their appointment.
• We will give flu vaccines to current, established Center City Pediatrics patients who have had at least one previous visit.
• No co-pay is collected for the flu vaccine visit.
• The flu vaccine is not recommended for children under 6 months of age.

EGG ALLERGY: Can My Child Receive the Flu Shot if He/She is Egg Allergic?
Most inactivated influenza vaccines (“flu shot”) are produced in eggs, and will contain tiny amounts of egg protein. Previously, individuals with a history of mild egg-allergy were required to undergo a period of observation after receiving the flu shot, while individuals with a history of severe egg allergy were recommended to be referred to an allergist.

Recent studies have now shown that the inactivated flu vaccine is well tolerated by recipients with a history of egg allergy of any severity. These studies have also shown that the risk of anaphylaxis due to the flu shot is rare (about 1 per 1 million recipients), and egg allergy does not appear to increase the risk of anaphylaxis due to the flu shot. As a result, the American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC guidelines for the 2016-2017 influenza season no longer recommend extended waiting periods of observation after administration of the flu shot. All children with an egg allergy can now receive the flu shot with no additional precautions from those of routine vaccinations. These recommendations remain unchanged for the upcoming 2018-2019 season.

As with any vaccine, children with a prior history of anaphylaxis to the flu shot (regardless of the component suspected of being responsible for the reaction) should not receive the flu shot.