Now Scheduling Seasonal Flu Vaccine and H1N1 Vaccine Appointments
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic has received new shipments of both the seasonal flu vaccine and H1N1 vaccine. Call our 24/7 Contact Center at 713-442-0427 to schedule an appointment. Appointments are available Monday through Friday during regular clinic hours. Saturday appointments are available at six Kelsey-Seybold locations in Clear Lake, Fort Bend, Katy, Kingwood, Spring and West. Only Clear Lake, Spring and West will offer appointments on Saturday, Nov. 28.
Who needs to be vaccinated for seasonal flu?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending flu vaccinations for children and adults.
They are especially important for those at higher risk including:
- Children age 6 months up to their 19th birthday.
- Pregnant women.
- People 65 years of age and older.
- People of any age with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and asthma.
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
- People who live or care for those with a high risk for complications from the flu, including health care workers, household contacts of people at high risk, and household contacts and out-of-home caregivers for children younger than 6 months old (these children are too young to be vaccinated).
What is FluMist?
FluMist is a nasal spray vaccine that can be taken instead of a shot by healthy people ages 2 to 49.
Who can receive the H1N1 "flu shot" vaccine?
The CDC recommends that the “flu shot” vaccine be administered to people in the following five target groups (order of target groups does not indicate priority):
- Pregnant women.
- People who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months (e.g., parents, siblings, and day care providers).
- Health care and emergency medical services personnel.
- People 6 months through 24 years of age (especially those with higher risk for influenza-related complications like children younger than 5 years and those who have high risk medical conditions).
- People 25 years through 64 years of age who have certain medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.
For more information, go to http://www.cdc.gov.
Who can receive the H1N1 “nasal (mist)” flu vaccine?
The “nasal (mist)’ flu vaccine is currently approved for:
- Healthy children 2 to 18 years of age (without asthma, diabetes or other chronic illnesses).
- Healthy non-pregnant family members and caregivers of children less than 6 months of age. (These family members/caregivers must be under age 50 to get the “nasal mist” vaccine.)
- Non-pregnant health care workers under age 50 with no chronic illnesses.
For more information, go to http://www.cdc.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this seasonal flu vaccine protect me from the swine flu?
No. The seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect you from the three most common strains of seasonal flu viruses, but not from H1N1 (formerly called "swine flu").
I received the flu vaccine this past spring or summer. Do I need another one?
Yes. The vaccine strain changes every year, with the previous year's vaccine expiring in July. The vaccine for this year is just now becoming available. The seasonal flu immunization is designed to give you protection for one year, but is changed each summer to more closely match the flu strains most likely to cause disease the following winter.
I received Tamiflu® or other treatment for H1N1 this spring or summer. Do I need a seasonal flu immunization?
Yes, you will need protection from the three strains of flu included in the seasonal vaccine, as this is not the type of influenza you had. If you had confirmed or probable H1N1 flu, you may not need that vaccine when it becomes available, unless you are in a high risk group.
Who shouldn't get a flu vaccination?
Talk to your doctor about not getting a flu immunization if:
- You have ever had a severe allergic reaction to eggs or to a previous flu shot.
- You have a history of Guillain-Barre' syndrome (GBS.)
- If you have an appointment to receive your flu vaccine and you are sick with a fever, you should talk to your doctor or nurse about postponing your immunization. However, you can get your vaccination if you are not running a fever and have only a mild respiratory infection or other illness.
Are flu immunizations covered by my health benefits plan?
Check with your health benefits plan to see if flu immunizations are a covered service. You can typically access this information from your health plan's Web site or from your employer's Web site. Flu vaccine may be covered by your plan with or without a co-pay. Kelsey-Seybold Clinic accepts more than 70 health care plans.
Is there a co-pay for the flu immunization?
Check with your health care insurance provider. Most health care benefits plans, including PPO, HMO and POS plans, typically cover the cost of the seasonal flu vaccination.
Can I pay cash for my flu immunization?
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic accepts cash for services, including flu shots and FluMist.
Is there anything different about flu immunizations for children?
Children younger than 9 years of age need two doses - given one month apart - if this is their first year to get the flu vaccine. Two doses are needed for either the flu shot or the nasal vaccine (FluMist).
Is there anything else I can do to protect myself and my family from the flu?
The best recommendations are to wash your hands frequently, use alcohol based hand sanitizers, avoid contact with people who have the flu and maintain good health habits, including diet, exercise and getting enough sleep.
Where can I get more information about the seasonal flu or the H1N1 virus?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers information and answers to frequently asked questions:
