Flu, COVID and RSV Vaccines at Magnolia
Dear Magnolia Families,
Fall is around the corner! It’s time to start thinking about the immunizations needed to protect your families during the winter against viruses like Influenza, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Although these viruses usually cause cold-like symptoms, they can cause hospitalizations and medical complications (like pneumonia, ear infections and sinus infections) and sometimes even death. They can be especially dangerous for the very young, the very old or those with a chronic medical condition.
The Flu vaccine is recommended for anyone 6 months and older. We are happy to offer the flu vaccine to our patients as well as to their parents. We will be sending out a MyChart message soon with the weekend/weekday flu clinic dates. Self-scheduling through MyChart will begin August 25th. We encourage scheduling through MyChart but you can call the clinic if you do not have MyChart. We have a limited number of the live attenuated nasal flu vaccine (Flumist). Here are the links to the Vaccine Information Sheet for the
Inactivated Flu Vaccine and the
Flumist. Here are the consent forms for the Inactivated Flu Vaccine Child and
Inactivated Flu Vaccine Adult and for the Flumist.
The RSV immunization is recommended for any infant younger than 8 months of age during their first RSV season (October through March) who has not had a previous RSV immunization themselves or through their mothers during pregnancy (as long as the maternal vaccine was given no less than two weeks before delivery).
It is also recommended for children aged 8 months through 19 months during their second RSV season who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease due to certain medical conditions including prematurity (less than 32 weeks gestation), chronic lung disease of prematurity requiring treatment, immunosuppression, hemodynamically significant congenital cardiac disease, anatomical pulmonary disease, neuromuscular disease, Down Syndrome or other chromosomal disorders or are of Native American descent.
We will be giving the RSV immunization starting October 1st through the end of March this season. Please call the clinic or send a MyChart message if your child qualifies for the RSV immunization. The vaccine information sheet about this immunization is
here.
The COVID-19 Vaccine is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for all children 6 months to 23 months of age. It is also recommended for children older than 23 months of age that have certain high risk medical conditions (examples include asthma, congenital heart disease, Inflammatory bowel disease, feeding tube dependent, chronic liver disease, sickle cell disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, wheelchair dependent, developmental disorder, immunocompromised, and autoimmune disorder). The vaccine is also recommended for children and adolescents that live in long-term care facilities or other congregate settings. And lastly, it should be offered to any child whose parent wishes to protect their child or a household member. We will be offering the COVID vaccine at Magnolia. Please send a MyChart message if you are interested in the COVID vaccine. The vaccine information sheet for the COVID vaccine is
here.
We are committed to science and fact-based information on the safety and efficacy of vaccines and believe that there should be access and choice to receive vaccines. We look forward to keeping our patients, families and community safe during this upcoming respiratory virus season.
Magnolia Doctors and Staff
