Flu Shots
By Juli Habegger
It is flu shot season and we have some upcoming clinics in our local communities and schools. Also, remember that anyone can receive flu shots Friday morning from 8:00-11:30 at Pawnee Rural Health Clinic. I want to share some flu shot recommendations.
The American Academy of Family Physicians and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommend all patients >6 months who do not have contraindications receive a licensed and age-appropriate seasonal influenza vaccine based on the following:
• All patients >9 years should receive one dose of influenza vaccine annually.
• Children 6 months through 8 years who have NOT previously received >2 doses of influenza vaccine, or the number of prior doses is unknown, should receive 2 doses of influenza vaccine >4 weeks apart.
• Children 6 months through 8 years who have previously received >2 doses of influenza vaccine need only 1 dose. The two previous doses do not need to have been administered during the same or consecutive seasons or be the same vaccine product.
• All patients >6 months with an egg allergy should receive an influenza vaccine. Any influenza vaccine (egg- or non-egg-based) that is otherwise appropriate for the recipient's age and health. It is now produced with embryonated chicken eggs- felt to be safe to give with people with egg allergies.
• Adults >65 years should preferably receive any one of the following higher-dose or adjuvanted influenza vaccines:
A regular flu shot or trivalent form is formulated to protect against three strains of flu. In the past, in the U.S we dosed a quadrivalent flu shot but one of the strains previously in those shots has not been circulating the globe in recent years, so it was removed from the injection and not felt to be necessary at this point.
Flublok: It is the higher dose influenza vaccine (stronger) with three times the antigen dose. It is not egg-based. Therefore, safe to be administered to individuals with an egg allergy. It is recommended for all individuals > 65 years of age but anyone age 18- 65 years can receive it.
We will be offering Trivalent and Flublok at Pawnee Rural Health Clinic and community clinics.
Flu shots are available at our local clinics- either call the clinic or check paper for available clinics at Burchard, Table Rock, Pawnee City, Humboldt, Steinauer or Dubois. We will also be at HTRS, Pawnee City, and Lewiston schools one morning to offer immunizations. Please get immunized, it helps keep our community healthy.
There will be other immunizations available either at the clinic or pharmacy that are recommended depending on general health, age, etc. RSV, pneumococcal vaccine (pneumonia), and Shingrix (shingles), COVID. Keep an eye out for upcoming articles that will update you on 2024 latest recommendations for these other immunizations.
