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Published
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| For
parents who are concerned about vaccines and are considering alternative
schedules, please refer to the article recently published by the AAP
which questions the validity of Dr. Sears Book. (See Link Below).
This article also has many safety references for parents. |
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| SWINE
FLU VACCINES |
| We
have received our first doses of the H1N1 live nasal flu vaccine (H1N1 Flumist)
in our office. Please schedule an appointment for this vaccine ASAP because
it is in high demand. |
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| Who
should get the H1N1 live nasal spray vaccine? |
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- It is approved
for people 2 to 49 years of age.
- Should particularly
be given to those who live with or care for infants under 6 months of
age (parents, slblings, daycare providers).
- Should also be
particularly given to Children 2 to 5 years of age.
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| The
H1N1 nasal spray vaccine CAN NOT be given to some groups of children, so
they will have to wait until we receive the injectable inactivated H1N1
flu shot. |
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| People
who cannot get the live nasal spray vaccine include: |
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- Those with severe
allergy to eggs.
- Children younger
than 2 years of age (and older than 50 years).
- Pregnant women.
- Those with weakened
immune system.
- Anyone with long-term
health problems such as: heart disease, lung disease, asthma, kidney
or liver disease, metabolic disease (such as diabetes), anemia or other
blood disorders.
- Children younger
than 5 years who have frequent or recent wheezing episodes.
- Anyone with muscle
or nerve disorders (such as cerebral palsy).
- Anyone in close
contact with a person with a severely weakened immune system.
- Children on long-term
aspirin treatment.
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| In
addition, please note that if your child has received another live viral
vaccine in the last 4 weeks such as Varivax (chickenpox), MMR or the seasonal
nasal spray vaccine (seasonal Flumist), they will have to wait 4 weeks before
getting the H1N1 live nasal spray vaccine. Also, children 2 to 9 years who
receive their first H1N1 vaccine will need a second H1N1 vaccine in 4 weeks
later. Older children and adults only need one dose. |
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| Please
see the CDC
H1N1 website for more information and you can read the complete Vaccine
Information Sheet from the CDC on the H1N1 nasal flu vaccine. We will
be getting the injectable H1N1 vaccine for those who are not eligible for
the nasal spray vaccine, but do not have an estimated shipment date at this
time. We are also expecting to get more of our seasonal flu vaccine and
will keep you posted. |
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| We
are keeping our website updated with the status of our flu vaccine supplies,
so we suggest you check this page often. |
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| Types
of Flu |
The
"seasonal" flu refers to the usual influenza we see every season.
There are two types, influenza A and influenza B. We offer a rapid flu test
in our office that can test for type A and type B. This is done with a nasal
swab and takes a few minutes to run. The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) recommends that all children ages 6 months to 19 years receive a flu
vaccine. It is particularly important for children with underlying chronic
diseases such as asthma and diabetes.
The other flu is the "swine flu" or "H1N1" flu. This
is a highly contagious flu because humans have not been exposed to this
strain prior to this year, and therefore, we have no resistance to it. |
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| How
does 2009 H1N1 virus spread? |
| Spread
of 2009 H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way that seasonal flu
spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing
or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected
by touching something – such as a surface or object – with flu
viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose |
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| What
are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people? |
| The
symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat,
runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant
number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported
diarrhea and vomiting. Severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result
of illness associated with this virus. |
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| How
long can an infected person spread this virus to others? |
| People
infected with seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu shed virus and may be able to infect
others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after. This can be
longer in some people, especially children and people with weakened immune
systems and in people infected with the new H1N1 virus. |
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| Prevention
& Treatment |
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| What
can I do to protect myself from getting sick? |
| A
vaccine is available right now to protect against seasonal influenza. We
offer both the vaccine and FluMist in our office. The injectable flu vaccine
is in inactivated vaccine with killed virus that is given as a shot. Side
effects from this vaccine can include: soreness, redness or swelling where
the shot was given as well as fever or aches. Flumist is given in the nose.
This vaccine is made with live weakened flu viruses that do not casue the
flu. Flumist is preservative-free and given to healthy people between 2
and 49 years old. Side effects for children can include: runny nose, cough,
fever, headache, muscle aches and wheezing. |
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| Take
these everyday steps to protect your health: |
- Cover your nose
and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in
the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands
often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use
an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoid touching
your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close
contact with sick people.
- If you are sick
with flu-like illness, CDC
recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever
is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your
fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others
sick. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Then, clean your hands, and
do so every time you cough or sneeze.
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| Other
important actions that you can take are: |
- Follow public health
advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing
measures.
- Be prepared in
case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of
over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs, tissues and other
related items might could be useful and help avoid the need to make
trips out in public while you are sick and contagious.
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| In
children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include: |
- Fast breathing
or trouble breathing
- Bluish or gray
skin color
- Not drinking enough
fluids
- Severe or persistent
vomiting
- Not waking up or
not interacting
- Being so irritable
that the child does not want to be held
- Flu-like symptoms
improve but then return with fever and worse cough.
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| How
long can influenza virus remain viable on objects (such as books and doorknobs)? |
| Studies
have shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and
can infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on the surface.
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| What
kills influenza virus? |
| Influenza
virus is destroyed by heat (167-212°F [75-100°C]). In addition,
several chemical germicides, including chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents
(soap), iodophors (iodine-based antiseptics), and alcohols are effective
against human influenza viruses if used in proper concentration for a sufficient
length of time. For example, wipes or gels with alcohol in them can be used
to clean hands. The gels should be rubbed into hands until they are dry. |
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| WHO
Should receive the H1N1 Vaccine? |
| CDC’s
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that
certain groups of the population receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when it first
becomes available. These target groups include pregnant women, people who
live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare
and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6
months and 24 years old, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who
are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or
compromised immune systems. |
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| We
expect to offer this vaccine in our office. Please keep informed of the
vaccines availability on this website. |
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Keep
your sick kids home from school!
For More info, visit the CDC Website!
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| Vaccines
for parents! |
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| If
you are a parent or you care for newborns and young infants, pay attention
- you might need a vaccination! |
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The Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) is advising these groups of people to make sure they have
a current Tdap (diptheria-tetanus-pertussis) booster. This vaccine is
licensed for patients 10-64 years old and can be given to any family member
or caregiver (except pregnant women) at any time. It is recommended that
pregnant women receive it at the time of hospital discharge or as soon
as possible after leaving the hospital. These recommendations are to protect
infants during the first moneths of life when they haven't received their
first pertussis vaccine. In the past few months, RADY Children's Hospital
has seen several infants less than 2 months of age admitted to the NICU
and PICU with pertussis. Many of these newborns experienced respiratory
failure. In most cases the source of pertussis is one of the parents.
If you haven't had a Dtap booster in 10 years, it's time to get one! Contact
our office for more information.
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| PINK
EYE STUDY |
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| Our
offices are participating in a FDA study for a new pink eye medication. |
| To
be eligible, participants must have pink eye and symptoms must be within
the past 4 days ( no longer than 4 days) and must be 1 month of age or older.
Patients will have 3 scheduled office visits, 2 with the physician and the
final one with a Board Certified Ophthalmologist. All study -related medication
and physician evaluations will be provided at no cost. Patient will be reimbursed
for time and travel. The trial will involve 3 scheduled office visits over
4 to 5 days. The best days to enroll subjects are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
as it does not require a weekend visit. |
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| THANK
YOU PATIENTS! |
| Dr.
Hitchcock is honored to receive the 2008 Patients' Choice Award. This award
is voted on by patients across the U.S. who provide feedback about their
experiences with doctors. Of the nation's 720,000 active physicians, less
than 5% were awarded this honor. The providers and staff at La Jolla Pediatrics/La
Costa Pediatrics look forward to providing the best possible care to our
patients in 2009 and beyond. |
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| PEDIATRIC
SPECIALISTS NOW IN NORTH COUNTY! |
| Several
of the pediatric specialists, including those from Rady Children's Hospital
of San Diego, have satellite offices in the North County Area. Our office
continues to support them, however, at times it is difficult for our patients
to be seen in a timely manner by these specialists. In an effort to provide
these services to our patients, several new specialists have been recruited
to have office hours available at 477 N. El Camino Real, Suite C300 and
Suite C204. While these offices are adjacent to El Camino Pediatrics, these
specialists are part of a separate practice and are available to La Costa
Pediatric patients as well. |
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| SUITE
C300 |
| Pediatric Cardiology |
Drs. Berjis and
Chu |
(714) 547-0900 |
Monday afternoons |
| Pediatric Endocrinology |
Dr. Sherry Franklin |
(858) 715-0465 |
Thursday all
day |
| Pediatric Neurology |
Dr. Andrew McIntosh |
(949) 249-3780 |
Tuesday morning |
| Orthopedics |
Dr. Robert Clifford |
(760) 942-0565 |
Tues-Fri afternoons |
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| SUITE
C204 |
| Pediatric
Dermatology |
Dr.
Bari Cunningham |
(760)
634-DERM |
Mon-Fri
all day |
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| FLU
SEASON |
| For
specific information about swine flu updates in our county, please
go to the following website: www.sdcounty.ca.gov/hhsa/ |
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The
CDC (Centers for Disease Control) website has the latest information
about swine flu (or any potential flu pandemic).
Please refer to: www.cdc.gov |
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| Flu
Vaccination is now recommended for ALL patients six months of age and older
(up to 18 years) as well as for parents of infants who are under the age
of six months during the flu season (November – March). Children who
have asthma or weakened immune systems should absolutely receive a flu vaccine. |
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| FluMist |
| FluMist
is an alternative to the flu shot. It is a gentle mist that is sprayed into
the nose. It can be given to children ages 2 or older. FluMist is not given
to children who are allergic to eggs, or have asthma or weakened immune
systems. Most PPO insurance plans cover the cost of this vaccine. If you
are unsure whether your plan covers FluMist, please call your insurance
company. |
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| Pertussis
(Whooping Cough) |
| Parents
of newborns are also recommended to receive a pertussis booster. In the
first few months of life, infants are particularly vulnerable to pertussis
infection. This is because newborns don’t receive a pertussis vaccine
until two months of age and don’t develop adequate levels of immunity
until they receive their 3rd immunization at six months of age. This disease
can be deadly in a newborn. It is also highly contagious. The majority of
children who get pertussis are exposed at home by a family member or other
caregiver. Adults who had routine immunizations in childhood can become
vulnerable to pertussis infection. This is because the effectiveness of
a vaccination can fade over time. If parents are unable to receive the pertussis
booster through their physician’s office, contact us. |
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La
Costa Pediatrics - Comprehensive healthcare for
your Child
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Call
us today for a consultation at:
(760)
633-3640
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We
are open Monday through Friday. .
Click
Here for our office hours!
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We
look forward to meeting you.
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Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved .
La Jolla Pediatrics . |.
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