Join Nim and Dr. Shepherd and get your flu shots!

It's that time of year again! Time for trick or treating, turkey, football, and yes the flu! Please join Dr. Shepherd and NIm, our new provider, and come  in and get your flu shot! Last year we tied a bad record for the most pediatric deaths from influenza in a non-influenza pandemic year! In the 2023-2024 flu season the United States had 199 pediatric deaths. This breaks our hearts! Of the 199 pediatric deaths, 83% were not fully vaccinated and 73 of the kids were under 5 years old. 49% of the children had a pre-existing condition. Last year the U.S. had 25,000 deaths from influenza.

The flu vaccine can be life-saving, prevent complications from influenza, and reduce the severity of illness of influenza. Influenza illness causes high fever, runny nose, cough, body aches, and a bad headache. Without treatment, influenza disease can last a week. If we can see the children or teens in our office within 48 hours of symptoms of influenza, we can test them for flu and if they are positive treat with Tamiflu. Side effects from influenza vaccine are sore arm, possible fever for a few days , and mild body aches.

If you have any questions about influenza, the flu vaccine, and whether or not your child or teen should get a flu shot OR any questions at all, please do not hesitate to call our office. 

If you want a flu shot, please call our office and schedule an appointment. 

Here is a link for more info on Influenza:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/whats-new/2023-2024-flu-deaths-children.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/2023-2024/2023-2024-flu-deaths-children.htm

Blessings and stay healthy!!

Dr. P and your team at GDP