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Flu Immunizations
ALL children, from ages 6 months to 18 years, should receive a flu immunization, unless they have a significant allergy to eggs. There are two types of flu vaccine--the traditional shots and Flumist, however, we are all out of Flumist for this season. Flu shots are approved for all individuals who are 6 months of age and older, unless they are allergic to eggs or have had a life-threatening reaction to previous influenza vaccinations. The vaccine should be given on a day when a child is well and is NOT ill with fever or wheezing. All single dose units which do NOT contain preservative have been used up. We still have some doses in multi-use vials which contain preservative. There is no medical evidence that preservatives cause any problem at all, and specifically has no link to autism. Click here for a link to the Center for Disease Control website on flu.
Flu Immunizations Are In
ALL children, from ages 6 months to 18 years, should receive a flu immunization, unless they have a significant allergy to eggs. We have two types of flu vaccine--the traditional shots and Flumist. Flu shots are approved for all individuals who are 6 months of age and older, unless they are allergic to eggs or have had a life-threatening reaction to previous influenza vaccinations. The vaccine should be given on a day when a child is well and is NOT ill with fever or wheezing. The flu shots we are currently using are single dose units which do NOT contain preservative. Once that supply is depleted, we will have some doses in multi-use vials which will contain preservative. There is no medical evidence that preservatives cause any problem at all, and specifically has no link to autism. We do have a limited supply of Flumist, which is a live vaccine that is administered by squirting a small amount of solution into each nostril. Some research has shown that Flumist may work better than the flu shot, and it may provide protection longer into the season. In order to receive Flumist, children must be at least 24 months of age, and have no allergy to eggs, gentamicin, gelatin or arginine. Also, people should not receive Flumist if they have a history of life-threatening reactions to previous influenza vaccinations, receive aspirin or aspirin-containing therapy, or have a diagnosis of asthma, heart disease, diabetes, kidney or metabolic disease or immunodeficiency. Click here for a link to the Flumist website for more information. Click here for a link to the Center for Disease Control website on flu. Flu Immunizations
We are happy to report the vaccine supply for both seasonal flu and H1N1 have improved. Please call our office during regular weekday business hours to schedule an appointment. SEASONAL FLU IMMUNIZATIONS: We DEFINITELY RECOMMEND the seasonal flu vaccine for ALL children ages 6 months and older who do not have allergies to egg or other vaccine components. NOTE: Since the state is sending us smaller quantities at a time, WE CANNOT GUARANTEE that we will have a given vaccine at a given time. We will make every effort to contact anyone with a scheduled flu immunization clinic appointment to notify them in advance in the event we run out of a vaccine. H1N1 (SWINE) FLU IMMUNIZATIONS: (Click here for information) on the H1N1 flu). We DEFINITELY RECOMMEND the H1N1 vaccine for the entire pediatric population six months of age and older, except for those with known serious allergy to eggs or other flu vaccine components. PLEASE NOTE: THE FLU VACCINE IS VERY SAFE-- BUT THE H1N1 flu CAN BE DEADLY!!! (Experts predict that the H1N1 is twice as infectious as regular seasonal flu and will be twice as deadly.) Flu vaccines are available to currently established patients, and will be available by appointment only. Please call our office during regular weekday business hours to schedule an appointment. Children UNDER 10 years of age are recommended to receive a booster vaccine about three or four weeks after the first one, but we cannot promise this, given the shortage of vaccines. Also please note that if your child is 6 years of age or older, there may be other vaccines he or she is also due. We encourage you to schedule annual well visits for your child so we can make certain all necessary immunizations are up to date. ALL children, from ages 6 months to 24 years, should receive flu immunizations, unless they have a significant allergy to eggs. There are two types of flu vaccine--the traditional shots and Flumist, a nasal spray. Flu shots are approved for all individuals who are 6 months of age and older, unless they are allergic to eggs or have had a life-threatening reaction to previous influenza vaccinations. The vaccine should be given on a day when a child is well and is NOT ill with fever or wheezing. All single dose units do NOT contain preservative, and we use those first. Sometimes during the flu season we may have multidose vials which contain a preservative, but there is no medical evidence that preservatives cause any problem at all, and specifically have no link to autism. Confused about everything you are hearing about flu and flu vaccine safety? Click here for our very own commentary on flu and flu vaccines! Click here for a link to the Center for Disease Control website on flu. WANT TO SAVE SOME TIME??? Complete the influenza safety questionnaire ahead of time. Click here for the form for a flushot, click here for the form for the Flumist, and click here if ANY of your personal information (for example any phone number, address, contacts) has changed since you last updated your information with us.
Fall 2010 Flu Immunizations are IN!!!! We are scheduling our flu clinics NOW! Call our office at 322-4453 during regular business hours M-F to schedule your child's flu vaccine. Flu Immunizations
ALL children, from ages 6 months to 18 years, should receive a flu immunization, unless they have a significant allergy to eggs. There are two types of flu vaccine--the traditional shots and Flumist, which is a live virus given via a nasal spray. Flu shots are approved for all individuals who are 6 months of age and older, unless they are allergic to eggs or have had a life-threatening reaction to previous influenza vaccinations. The vaccine should be given on a day when a child is well and is NOT ill with fever or wheezing. We will use our supply of single dose vaccines, which do not contain preservative, first. Once that supply is depleted, we will switch to multi-use vials which contain a very small amount of preservative. There is no medical evidence that preservatives cause any problem at all, and specifically have no link to autism. We do have a limited supply of Flumist, which is a live vaccine that is administered by squirting a small amount of solution into each nostril. Some research has shown that Flumist may work better than the flu shot, and it may provide protection longer into the season. In order to receive Flumist, children must be at least 24 months of age, and have no allergy to eggs, gentamicin, gelatin or arginine. Also, people should not receive Flumist if they have a history of life-threatening reactions to previous influenza vaccinations, receive aspirin or aspirin-containing therapy, or have a diagnosis of asthma, heart disease, diabetes, kidney or metabolic disease or immunodeficiency. Click here for a link to the Flumist website for more information. Click here for a link to the Center for Disease Control website on flu. Welcome Katherine Henchey, CPNP!
Katherine Henchey (Kate) is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP) with degrees in both Primary Care Pediatrics and Acute Care Pediatrics. She graduated from UNC-Wilmington in 1999 with a degree in nursing and then worked as a pediatric nurse at Duke Children's Hospital while obtaining her master's degree. She completed her residency training in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Brenner's Childrens' Hospital, and graduated from Duke University in 2004. Since that time, Kate has worked extensively in Pediatrics at Duke Hospital in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and stepdown units, and most recently with Dr. Rigardy Munoz (child psychiatry) here in Hickory. She is well-trained in pediatric and adolescent behavioral problems. Kate enjoys spending her free time with her family in Conover and Granite Falls, and with her cocker spaniel, Jack. She is certified with the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
Registered Dietician!
The ChildHealth Center, PA was one of eight practices selected throughout ALL of North Carolina to take part in a study to prove the cost-effectiveness of having a registered dietician in a primary care office! We are VERY excited at the opportunity this will bring our patients. The primary focus of the dietician will be to educate and support families who need to make dietary changes to improve the health of their children. We hired Melissa Smith. She spends every other week at The ChildHealth Center. The study primarily gives assistance to those families where a child is at or above the 85th percentile for Body Mass Index. If you think your child might have problems with being overweight, please give us a call so we can arrange a meeting with the dietician. The study covers all expenses related to the sessions--there is no cost (not even a co-pay) to you or your insurance company. Obesity affects one in five children in our country. It is an epidemic that will have long-lasting effects for affected individuals and society as a whole. The ChildHealth Center is thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the solution!
Meet our Registered Dietician:
Developmental forms needed at certain Well visits:
Flu Immunizations
ALL children, from ages 6 months to 18 years, should receive a flu immunization, unless they have a significant allergy to eggs. There are two types of flu vaccine--the traditional shots and Flumist, which is a live virus given via a nasal spray. Flu shots are approved for all individuals who are 6 months of age and older, unless they are allergic to eggs or have had a life-threatening reaction to previous influenza vaccinations. The vaccine should be given on a day when a child is well and is NOT ill with fever or wheezing. We will use our supply of single dose vaccines, which do not contain preservative, first. Once that supply is depleted, we will switch to multi-use vials which contain a very small amount of preservative. There is no medical evidence that preservatives cause any problem at all, and specifically have no link to autism. We do have a limited supply of Flumist, which is a live vaccine that is administered by squirting a small amount of solution into each nostril. Some research has shown that Flumist may work better than the flu shot, and it may provide protection longer into the season. In order to receive Flumist, children must be at least 24 months of age, and have no allergy to eggs, gentamicin, gelatin or arginine. Also, people should not receive Flumist if they have a history of life-threatening reactions to previous influenza vaccinations, receive aspirin or aspirin-containing therapy, or have a diagnosis of asthma, heart disease, diabetes, kidney or metabolic disease or immunodeficiency. Click here for a link to the Flumist website for more information. Click here for a link to the Center for Disease Control website on flu.
Flu Immunizations
We now have ALL flu vaccines available to patients with ALL insurance including Medicaid and NCHealthChoice! Flu vaccines are available to currently established patients, and are available by appointment only, either during one of our flu immunization clinics or at a scheduled well visit or recheck appointment. (We do not have sufficient staff to give flu vaccines at a sick visit appointment.) Please call our office during regular weekday business hours to schedule an appointment. Also please note that if your child is 6 years of age or older, there may be other vaccines he or she is also due. We encourage you to schedule annual well visits for your child so we can make certain all necessary immunizations are up to date. ALL children, from ages 6 months to 18 years, should receive a flu immunization, unless they have a significant allergy to eggs. There are two types of flu vaccine--the traditional shots and Flumist, which is a live virus given via a nasal spray. Flu shots are approved for all individuals who are 6 months of age and older, unless they are allergic to eggs or have had a life-threatening reaction to previous influenza vaccinations. The vaccine should be given on a day when a child is well and is NOT ill with fever or wheezing. We will use our supply of single dose vaccines, which do not contain preservative, first. Once that supply is depleted, we will switch to multi-use vials which contain a very small amount of preservative. There is no medical evidence that preservatives cause any problem at all, and specifically have no link to autism. We also offer Flumist, which is a live vaccine that is administered by squirting a small amount of solution into each nostril. There is evidence that Flumist may work better than the flu shot. In order to receive Flumist, children must be at least 24 months of age, and have no allergy to eggs, gentamicin, gelatin or arginine. Also, people should not receive Flumist if they have a history of life-threatening reactions to previous influenza vaccinations, receive aspirin or aspirin-containing therapy, or have a diagnosis of asthma, heart disease, diabetes, kidney or metabolic disease or immunodeficiency. Click here for a link to the Flumist website for more information. Click here for a link to the Center for Disease Control website on flu.
Katherine Church, CPNP
Katherine Church (Kate) is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP) with degrees in both Primary Care Pediatrics and Acute Care Pediatrics. She graduated from UNC-Wilmington in 1999 with a degree in nursing and then worked as a pediatric nurse at Duke Children's Hospital while obtaining her master's degree. She completed her residency training in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Brenner's Childrens' Hospital, and graduated from Duke University in 2004. Since that time, Kate has worked extensively in Pediatrics at Duke Hospital in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and stepdown units, and most recently with Dr. Rigardy Munoz (child psychiatry) here in Hickory. She is well-trained in pediatric and adolescent behavioral problems. Kate enjoys spending her free time with her husband Brandon, her new baby daughter Mackenzie, and her cocker spaniel, Jack. She is certified with the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
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Last modified: Monday February 16, 2015 |
Flu vaccines
are available to currently established patients, and are available by
appointment only, either during one of our flu immunization clinics or at a
scheduled well visit or recheck appointment. Please call our office during
regular weekday business hours to schedule an appointment. Also please
note that if your child is 6 years of age or older, there may be other vaccines
he or she is also due. We encourage you to schedule annual well visits for
your child so we can make certain all necessary immunizations are up to date.
