Boosters and Turkeys

Influenza H1N1 Vaccine Booster Doses:

• there have been many questions about who needs a booster vaccine for H1N1 influenza
• for children age 9 years old or less, it is recommended to receive a booster (second) dose of the vaccine 3-4 weeks after the first dose
• this booster dose is in order to achieve maximum efficacy (to make sure the body's immune system is maximally prepared to fight off infection if exposed to the H1N1 influenza)
  
• however, even if only 1 dose is given (in cases where the second dose is not given as recommended), the vaccine will likely still be at least partially effective, and maybe completely protective --- this information is different from what some families have been led to believe --- thus it is NOT true that without the booster dose, the vaccine is completely useless and ineffective....
• so what does "partially effective" mean?? in most cases, completely effective means preventing any illness from developing... partially effective likely means a less severe illness than would have occurred without any vaccine, often of shorter duration
  
• currently, we do not have enough vaccine in our office to offer booster doses to any children for the H1N1 vaccine, and we apologize that this is the case
  
• we cannot offer these booster doses because we have not yet received our complete ordered shipment of H1N1 vaccine from the Cook County Department of Public Health
• if and when we do receive our remaining shipment (which we still hope will happen later this month or early next month), we will begin offering booster doses at that time once all primary doses have been given
• as always, please feel free to call us and ask any questions about this or anything else....
• .... but please understand that unfortunately, we currently CANNOT schedule any patients for booster doses for the H1N1 vaccine

Thanksgiving Week Holiday Schedule:

• Monday: regular hours, 8:30-5:00
• Tuesday: regular hours, 8:30-7:00
• Wednesday: shortened hours, 8:30-2:00
• Thursday: office closed, physician available via pager at all times
• Friday: shortened hours, 8:30-2:00
• Saturday: regular hours, 9:00-1:00
  

*** As always, we are available at any time all week by paging the physician on call at 847-501-4040. Please don't hesitate to page us with any issues...


Thanks for reading! Happy holidays and safe travels to all during this holiday period. Please call us with any questions or concerns...
-esp