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Ask Dr. Alice: Is It Too Late for Flu Shots?

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By Alice Merkrebs, M.D., Newburyport Pediatrics January 20, 2015
alicemerkrebsLocal pediatrician and mom Dr. Alice Merkrebs answers your family health questions.

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Is it too late to get flu shots this year? It's already January - but everyone at my kids' school seems to have the sniffles and I don't want us all to get sick!


Dr. Alice: Flu season generally lasts through early April, so it's definitely still worth a trip to the doctor or pharmacy.

Flu vaccines are reformulated every year to reflect the most popular strains in circulation, so it's important to stay up to date. And if you or your child has any special health conditions - such as cardiac, respiratory, or immune disorders - shots are a must, she says. (Click here for complete guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)

Kids under three must have two separate shots four weeks apart, while older kids need just one needle stick. It takes about two weeks after vaccination to achieve maximum protection.

So far about 80% of my patients have gotten their shots this season. I never tell my patients to do anything I wouldn't do for my own family, and this is something we do every year!

Got a question for Dr. Alice? Email us!

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Newburyport Pediatrics is located at 21 Highland Ave., Suite 14. Call 978-462-7108 for more information and to schedule an appointment.