Flu Vaccine Program for Patients and Household Contacts
Seattle Children’s is offering flu shots to all patients and their household contacts — family members and others who live with a patient. All patients over 6 months old will be screened for contraindications and encouraged to get a flu shot while at the hospital. Household contacts can receive a free flu shot; patients are billed as part of their service at Children’s.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommend flu shots for all children between 6 months and 18 years old.
Flu shots are especially important for children who are at increased risk due to:
* Young age (6 months to 4 years old)
- Chronic medical conditions including cardiac, pulmonary (including asthma), endocrine, and neuromuscular conditions
- A compromised immune system
- Long-term aspirin therapy
The CDC also recommends the flu vaccine for household contacts of high-risk patients, especially the family members of children under 6 months of age, because these infants are too young to receive the vaccine themselves. Children’s is offering the vaccine to the household contacts of all patients (not limited to those of high-risk patients).
Flu vaccines will be noted in patients’ medical records, and patients and household contacts will receive documentation to share with their primary care providers. For questions, contact Dr. Danielle Zerr at 206-987-2653.
Faculty and community providers who attend at Children’s are encouraged to get a free flu shot through Occupational Health Services. Drop-in clinic hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m., and on Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to noon. To avoid waiting, you may make an appointment by calling 206-987-2555. Remember to bring your Children’s ID badge.