Announcing Final Seasonal Flu Vaccine Availability

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Announcing Final Seasonal 
Flu Vaccine Availability


Advanced Pediatrics has just been informed that 
the seasonal flu vaccine we have in the office
will be all that we will be receiving.

We have also just completed our last special flu vaccine
clinic for 2009 and are able, therefore, to make available
the final doses of seasonal flu vaccine for 2009.
These doses are all injection-format, we have no more
doses of nasal spray-format.

Why? As with all other medical providers, we are
limited by the number of doses the pharmaceutical
companies make each year.  

These manufacturers have informed us that they are
not going to be making any more doses of seasonal
flu vaccine, and therefore not shipping any more.

So, as of now, we have a limited number of seasonal flu
vaccine available on a first-come, first-served basis.
(We have reserved and administered a number of doses
for those with dangerously serious illness already)

Bottom Line:
1. Call now- seasonal flu shots are available, for
a very brief time.
2. We still expect many more doses of H1N1 flu vaccine,
both nasal spray and injection, to be delivered to us.
Stay tuned to these postings for announcements
of their arrival. At this moment, that shipment
has not yet arrived, so we do not have any H1N1 vaccine,
yet.
3. We apologize for all the worry, inconvenience, and
frustration this flu season's immunizations has caused.
There is no way any of us could avoid feeling worried and
frustrated when we experience the double-hit of a potentially
dangerous, widespread novel flu epidemic (H1N1) coupled with
very real shortages of manufacture of seasonal and H1N1 vaccine.

Finally, we all at Advanced Pediatrics remain very grateful for your
patience and trust as we all work together to protect your children,
to the very best of our ability.

Dr. Arthur Lavin

*Disclaimer*
The comments contained in this electronic source of information do not constitute and are not designed to imply that they constitute any form of individual medical advice. The information provided is purely for informational purposes only and not relevant to any person's particular medical condition or situation. If you have any medical concerns about yourself or your family please contact your physician immediately. In order to provide our patients the best uninfluenced information that science has to offer,we do not accept samples of drugs, advertising tchotchkes, money, food, or any item from outside vendors.

H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Vaccine- Juggling the Schedules

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H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Vaccine- 
Juggling the Schedules

Some children have been immunized for H1N1 and some for
seasonal flu.  

Some have had one dose but need a booster,
some have had one dose but do not need a booster.

This is a very unusual flu immunization year, instead of getting
one immunization for influenza, now you need two series of immunizations!


We hope this guide will clear up many questions you have.

H1N1 v. Seasonal Flu
Seasonal flu is a set of usually 3 related viruses that cause illness
in the US every winter, typically appearing in full force in January,
and gone until the next winter by May. It causes colds, flus,
ear infections, sore throats, coughs, pneumonias and such.
Most years the severity is pretty much the same as the year before,
but every now and then a more severe set of viruses appears.
It always appears in the same season and goes away for the same seasons,
even though the actual strains of viruses vary a bit year to year.


H1N1 virus is a far less predictable virus. It can come and infect 
a large area anytime of the year. It has already hit Cleveland in April-
June and September-October. Who knows if it will return?
Who knows how severe it will be if it returns? It has caused serious
disease in our region, even some deaths, but our own experience
at Advanced Pediatrics is that we saw no severe or dangerous illnesses
from H1N1 this year.
This physically the same virus each time it reappears in each of its
two epidemics this year. It may be done, or it may return.

Nasal Spray v. Injection
Nasal Spray is a highly effective approach to flu immunization in children.
It can only be used if you between ages 2-50 years old, and do not have a
chronic illness like asthma.
This form can be used for seasonal flu and/or H1N1.
If you get any nasal spray flu vaccine, you cannot get the other
nasal spray flu vaccine for about one month afterwards.
For example, if you get the H1N1 nasal spray, you have to wait about a
month before you can get the seasonal flu nasal spray (and vice versa).

Injection is the old-fashioned flu shot. It can be used in anyone 6 months
of age and older, with any illness, but not if you are allergic to eggs.
You can get any injection, including the other flu shot, along with any
flu shot (i.e., H1N1 or seasonal).

Getting Flu Vaccine if you are Sick
You can get any flu vaccine if you are mildly ill. That includes H1N1 or
seasonal, nasal spray or injection flu vaccines.
Mildly ill means that you can breathe without too much struggle, your
fever is not making you very uncomfortable, you are well enough to not
need to go to the hospital, etc.
It turns out that flu vaccines will not make your mild illness worse,
and your illness will not block the vaccines from working.

When to Get the Next Flu Vaccine
If you got the H1N1 shot, when can you get the seasonal flu shot?  
Anytime

If you got the seasonal flu shot, when can you get the H1N1 shot?  
Anytime

If you got the H1N1 nasal spray, when can you get the seasonal flu shot?
Anytime

If you got the seasonal flu nasal spray, when can you get the H1N1 shot?

Anytime

If you got the H1N1 nasal spray, when can you get the seasonal flu nasal spray?

At least about a month apart.

If you got the seasonal flu nasal spray, when can you get the H1N1 nasal spray?

At least about a month apart.

The Booster Question

If you are 10 years or older, you do not need a booster for H1N1

or seasonal flu immunization.

If you have had a seasonal flu vaccine in the past, you do not need

a booster, for seasonal flu vaccine.

For those who needs a booster, keep in mind: the first dose

offers a lot of protection. The booster is a good idea, but you still

have some protection from serious illness with one dose.

In case of shortages, it is urgent and important that everyone who can

receive their first dose of flu vaccination, for H1N1 and seasonal

flu, before anyone gets a booster.

Boosters for H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccination should only be given

one month or more after the first dose.

Dr. Lavin

*Disclaimer*
The comments contained in this electronic source of information do not constitute and are not designed to imply that they constitute any form of individual medical advice. The information provided is purely for informational purposes only and not relevant to any person's particular medical condition or situation. If you have any medical concerns about yourself or your family please contact your physician immediately. In order to provide our patients the best uninfluenced information that science has to offer,we do not accept samples of drugs, advertising tchotchkes, money, food, or any item from outside vendors.

Dr. Lavin in Jacksonville FL on Autism

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Dr. Arthur Lavin presents a National Conference on the topic of Autism

Dr. Arthur Lavin was invited by the Infusion Nurses Society to present at their national fall meeting, the National Academy of Infusion Therapy.  Each year the Society selects topics of top interest to their 6000 members, and this year the issue of most interest was autism.

Dr. Lavin was invited to present an overview of this subject, and was brought to Jacksonville FL and invited to submit a manuscript to the Society's Journal.  His presentation on autism is now available on-line, as a PowerPoint file, at www.advancedped.com.

In his presentation, on November 15, 2009, Dr. Lavin reviews the basic elements of normal cognition with special attention to the key aspects of social cognition.  A working definition of autism and its relevant spectrum conditions is also presented.  Then a review of the controversy on whether a true epidemic is occurring, as well as the status of various treatments currently proposed.

Dr. Lavin's key points are that autism is on the rise, but we still have no understanding of its true causes.

*Disclaimer*
The comments contained in this electronic source of information do not constitute and are not designed to imply that they constitute any form of individual medical advice. The information provided is purely for informational purposes only and not relevant to any person's particular medical condition or situation. If you have any medical concerns about yourself or your family please contact your physician immediately. In order to provide our patients the best uninfluenced information that science has to offer,we do not accept samples of drugs, advertising tchotchkes, money, food, or any item from outside vendors.

H1N1 Epidemic Slowing, Vaccine Still on the Way

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H1N1 Epidemic Slowing, 
Vaccine Still on the Way

The evidence is striking, the H1N1 epidemic that
raged this fall in the Cleveland area, has dramatically
weakened.

At Advanced Pediatrics, the number of calls and visits for
flu have dropped to nearly none.
We have also been very fortunate that no one has yet
been admitted to a hospital for flus this year.

At the same time, we still expect a very large shipment
of H1N1 vaccine, in shot and nasal spray form, sometime
over the next few weeks.

The urgency of H1N1 infection has faded tremendously,
for now.

We recommend you keep checking this website, we will post
when the new doses are available.

And, that you get the H1N1 vaccine, it may yet return.

Dr. Arthur Lavin

*Disclaimer*
The comments contained in this electronic source of information do not constitute and are not designed to imply that they constitute any form of individual medical advice. The information provided is purely for informational purposes only and not relevant to any person's particular medical condition or situation. If you have any medical concerns about yourself or your family please contact your physician immediately. In order to provide our patients the best uninfluenced information that science has to offer,we do not accept samples of drugs, advertising tchotchkes, money, food, or any item from outside vendors.

H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Vaccine Now at Shaker Heights

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H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Vaccine 
Now at Shaker Heights


The Shaker Heights Department of Health
http://www.shakeronline.com/services/safety/H1N1FluInformation.asp
is receiving regular shipments of both injection and
nasal spray forms of both H1N1 and seasonal flu
vaccine, every Tuesday.


Please check their website, any qualified person
can receive H1N1 vaccine or seasonal flu there,
regardless of where you live.


Dr. Arthur Lavin

*Disclaimer*
The comments contained in this electronic source of information do not constitute and are not designed to imply that they constitute any form of individual medical advice. The information provided is purely for informational purposes only and not relevant to any person's particular medical condition or situation. If you have any medical concerns about yourself or your family please contact your physician immediately. In order to provide our patients the best uninfluenced information that science has to offer,we do not accept samples of drugs, advertising tchotchkes, money, food, or any item from outside vendors.

Early Signs of Relief?

Early Signs of Relief?

Over the last week at Advanced Pediatrics we have seen

a remarkable drop in the number of cases of flu.

We cannot say for sure, but this preliminary observation

suggests that the fall of 2009 H1N1 epidemic, in our area,

may be on the wane.

Time will tell, but right now it looks like we may have a 

break in the pressure the recent epidemic created.

Keep in mind that this H1N1 (swine) influenza virus

has the ability to come back and to become more

harmful, so do keep an eye on this web site.

We are very confident that there will plenty of H1N1

immunizations available for everyone, just a matter of

when it will arrive.

When we get a shipment, we set up days to administer it

and post all that information on this website right away.

Bottom Line:

1. There are early indicators that the fall 2009 H1N1 epidemic

is fading.

2. We still recommend H1N1 immunization for possible future

epidemics.

3. We expect to have plenty of H1N1 immunizations.

4. We will announce arrival of our H1N1 shipments at this webpage.

Dr. Lavin

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*Disclaimer*
The comments contained in this electronic source of information do not constitute and are not designed to imply that they constitute any form of individual medical advice. The information provided is purely for informational purposes only and not relevant to any person's particular medical condition or situation. If you have any medical concerns about yourself or your family please contact your physician immediately. In order to provide our patients the best uninfluenced information that science has to offer,we do not accept samples of drugs, advertising tchotchkes, money, food, or any item from outside vendors.

Booster seats cut chance of Injury in Half

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Booster seats cut chance of injury in Half




In the November issue of the leading journal, Pediatrics*, a team of doctors

in Philadelphia published their findings comparing the chance of a 4-8

year-old child suffering an injury during a car accident if they were

wearing a seat belt v. sitting in a booster seat.



They studied over 7,000 children, involved in over 6,000 car crashes

from data across 16 states. The sample represented over 100,000

children in over 100,000 car crashes.



What did they find?



If your child who is over 40 pounds but less than 4'9" tall

is in a booster seat, they reduce their chance of being injured

compared to a child wearing a seat belt, by about 50%!



So please, if your child is between 40 pounds and 4'9", have them

in a booster seat. It will eliminate about half their risk of being injured

in a car accident.



(Full text of article: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/124/5/1281)




Dr. Arthur Lavin




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In a previous post, we discussed the new Ohio law

on booster seats:



The Car Seat Safety Law in Ohio









Recently the Ohio legislature passed a law requiring children under a


certain age and/or height to be in a car seat.





Prior to this law being passed, it was the law that a child be in a car


seat from birth through either age 4 years or 40 pounds.





Now, starting in October, 2009, a citation will be issued to any parent


whose child is not in a child seat through either age 8 years or 4'9".





Starting in April, 2010, a citation will be issued for second offenses of this law.





The current recommendations from Advanced Pediatrics are as follows:

• All people riding in a car should have their pelvis and shoulder secured
• For anyone less than 4'9" tall, that requires some device to achieve that security
• From birth to age one year and 20 pounds, one should be in an infant car seat, facing backwards
• From that point until 40 pounds, one should be in an infant car seat, facing forwards
• From 40 pounds until 4'9" one should be in a booster seat.

Note these key items:


You should not face forward until you are both 1 year old and 20 pounds in weight.


The shift from infant seat to booster seat occurs at 40 pounds, the age does not matter.


The end of needing any device takes place at 4'9" . For this change neither age nor weight matter.





These guidelines have nothing to do with a child being mature, or grown up,


they only reflect the physics of how bodies can be safely secured during


and accident. If you follow these guidelines, your child(ren) is far less likely


to be hurt if an accident occurs.

Dr. Lavin

*Disclaimer*
The comments contained in this electronic source of information do not constitute and are not designed to imply that they constitute any form of individual medical advice. The information provided is purely for informational purposes only and not relevant to any person's particular medical condition or situation. If you have any medical concerns about yourself or your family please contact your physician immediately. In order to provide our patients the best uninfluenced information that science has to offer,we do not accept samples of drugs, advertising tchotchkes, money, food, or any item from outside vendors.