News & Information
January 12th
Barrington Whooping Cough/Pertussis Clinic
Today and Tomorrow!
For all Barrington Residents ages 10 and up (except pregnant
women) who have never received the TdaP vaccine
Barrington High School Cafeteria, 220 Lincoln Avenue
4-7 PM
Thursday Jan. 12 and Friday Jan. 13
Free for those with no health insurance
For those with insurance: please bring your card
Who should go:
- Barrington students age 10+
- Anyone in close contact with a baby
- Anyone with a weak immune system (chronic lung disease, nervous
system disease or immune disorder or their household contacts)
- Professionals including school staff, daycare workers and healthcare
workers
- All adults, including 65 and older
Pregnant women should see their obstetricians
January 11th
Local Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Alert
Barrington School Clinic to be held this week.
The RI Board of Health has reported 4 confirmed cases of Whooping
Cough in Barrington and is looking at 5 more.
Whooping Cough is a very serious disease known as the 100 Day Cough.
It can be fatal in infants and 10 California babies died last year
in an outbreak there. If your child has kept up with regular
vaccinations, most likely you have nothing to fear, but if your
child is unvaccinated or undervaccinated, please bring him or her in
ASAP to our office.
For those children soon due for a whooping cough booster shot
(children around age 10 years), the state of Rhode Island will be
holding a school-based clinic in Barrington for certain Barrington
kids.
For all parents who are unsure of their own vaccine status, please
contact your Physician or Town Nurse and get yourself vaccinated.
This is such an easy thing to do to help protect infants and older
folks in particular from this terrible illness. While you are at it,
get a flu shot too!
November 28th
Measles Warning
Holiday and winter travel can be a wonderful break for families;
it is a good idea to be prepared before you go.
Many parents who ask us for travel advice are concerned about
exposure to exotic diseases. Your pediatricians at Swansea
Pediatrics are also concerned about vaccine preventable disease,
especially Measles, which is on the increase around the world.
Thousands of cases have been reported, and in the US over 200 cases
so far this year.
If you are traveling out of the country, make sure your child is
protected against Measles, which can be a very serious illness. Ask
us, as the recommendations are different for those who are
traveling. Even infants over 6 months of age can receive an MMR
vaccine before your trip.
September 26th
Flu Clinic Saturday, November 5th, 1-4PM
This clinic is open to all children, those that are healthy and
those at high risk. Please call the office at 508-379-9605 to
schedule an appointment as this is not a walk-in clinic.
If your child has asthma, heart disease, diabetes or any other
chronic serious illness, he or she is considered high risk and
should be protected as soon as possible.
There will be no "List" again this year, just announcements in the
newsletter and via the website and patient portal as we get more vaccine in. There will
also be several early morning clinics throughout the season, which
we will announce in the same fashion.
We are back to a normal flu season, which means it will begin late
November or early December, so there is plenty of time to get
vaccinated. We are vaccinating children coming in for regular
check-ups, so if you have a check-up booked this fall, your child
can get the vaccine then. Remember, children getting the flu vaccine
for the first time need a booster at least 4 weeks later.
To all parents, especially parents of infants less than 6 months:
please get your own flu vaccination!
Note: Like last year, this year's flu vaccine (either
injection or nasal spray) contains protection against both H1N1 and
regular flu in one vaccine, even though there is no H1N1 around at
this time. Both are safe and have been joined to make protecting our
patients easier.
There will be announcements in the Newsletter and on the website about future clinics.
Please check either for the latest news.
September 12th
First Fall Flu Clinic Sunday September 25th
Please call to book your appointment.
Flu vaccine is available at the flu clinic or at your next visit
to the office. We will be offering more flu clinics this fall.
Both the nasal spray and the injection are available, to protect
your child aged 6 months and older from flu this fall and winter.
This is a very safe vaccine which is extremely well tolerated,
especially among children.
May 17th
Measles
There have been several cases of Measles in Boston in the past
few months so this is a good time to review Measles. It is a viral
infection we almost never see because we have an excellent vaccine
to prevent it. Measles is highly contagious as it is carried in the
air near a patient who is coming down with it or already has it.
Measles is potentially fatal, especially to young children and even
adults. It causes several days of high fever, rash and cough;
terrible complications sometimes follow.
As many of you know, in 1998, a British doctor named Andrew
Wakefield published a paper based on just 12 children, falsely
linking Measles/Mumps/Rubella vaccine with autism. We now know he
was being paid large sums of money by British attorneys who had a
plan to sue vaccine makers. That fact was a secret until recently.
Further, in May 2010, Wakefield lost his right to practice medicine
because he committed fraud by trying to link the MMR vaccine with
autism. None of Wakefield’s claims have ever been duplicated by any
other medical researcher in this country or in any other.
While these claims were shown to be completely false as far back as
2004, they had, unfortunately, already led to a fear of vaccines in
general. Some children even died of measles in Britain and elsewhere
because of this false fear. Studies from around the world have shown
there is no connection whatsoever between vaccines and autism.
Your doctors at Swansea Pediatrics are happy to discuss vaccine
safety and answer your questions any time. Our information is based
on the scientific research from around the world. We understand that
parents want to protect their children from any harm; vaccination is
one of the best ways to do so.
February 2nd
Furnace and heater venting
Be aware that many of today's high efficiency furnaces and
heating units (and some older designs) vent their exhaust gases through the side of a home or
building. Even if you are certain that your heating unit or your
building's heating unit has been installed according to all local
codes, it is a simple and wise habit to make certain the vent is
clear to prevent carbon monoxide, which is lethal, from entering
your home. This is a particular problem in the winter as such vents,
although properly installed, can get blocked by drifting snow. A
quick check and 60 seconds with a shovel can avert a very serious
problem.
December 28th
Flu vaccine still available
Flu is now widespread in Massachusetts, sporadic in Rhode Island.
We are continuing to vaccinate our patients. If your child has not
had a flu vaccine and has no upcoming visit to the office, please call
to schedule a vaccine with one of our nurses.
There are 3 main types of flu this winter: one is very similar to
last year’s H1N1. Our vaccine will help protect your child from all
three types. It is not at all too late to vaccinate; flu season is
just starting.
Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year!
November 28th
In the past few years here and across the country, many hospitals, including
some of the best such as Hasbro Children’s Hospital and
Children’s Hospital Boston, have begun using
hospitalists to care for in-patients. Many of our parents and
grandparents may be familiar with hospitalists, who are physicians
who work only in the hospital and provide round-the-clock bedside
care.
After much discussion among your doctors here at Swansea Pediatrics,
we have decided to make this change as well at Hasbro. The hospitalists
there are excellent and are in the hospital all the time. They have
assured us that they will keep us informed about your child’s
diagnosis, progress and discharge. We will supply these doctors with
your child’s records in a timely manner and will be involved in
discharge planning.
Your child will be discharged to our care and we will see them for
any and all follow-up visits, to make sure all is going well after
their hospitalization.
November 4th
Final Weekend Flu Clinic
Sunday, December 5th, 9AM - 12 Noon
Combined Seasonal/H1N1 vaccine
We are having our final weekend clinic on Sunday, 12/5/10 from 9AM to 12
Noon.
Flu season is now upon us and it is the opportune time to get your
vaccine. This clinic is open to all children, those that are
healthy, and those at high risk. Please call the office at
508-379-9605 to schedule an appointment as this is not a walk-in
clinic.
There will be no "List" this year, just announcements in the
newsletter
as we get more vaccine in. There will also be several early morning
clinics throughout the season, which we will announce in the
newsletter
as well.
We are back to what we hope is a more normal flu season, which means
it will begin late November or early December, so there is plenty of
time
to get vaccinated. We are vaccinating children coming in for regular
check-ups, so if you have a check-up booked this fall, your child
can get
the vaccine then. Remember, children getting the flu vaccine for the
first
time need a booster at least 4 weeks later.
To all parents, especially parents of infants under 6 months:
please
get
your own flu vaccine!
Please note: this year's flu vaccine (either injection or nasal
spray)
contains protection against both H1N1 and regular flu in one
vaccine,
even though there is no H1N1 around at this time. Both are safe and
have
been joined to make protecting our patients easier.
There will be announcements in the Newsletter and here on the
website about future clinics. Please check there or here for the
latest news.
October 14th
Flu Clinic Sunday, October 24, 9AM - 12 Noon
Combined Seasonal/H1N1 vaccine
This clinic is open to all children, those that are healthy, and
those at high risk. Please call the office at 508-379-9605 to
schedule an appointment as this is not
a walk-in clinic. There will be more opportunities for getting
a flu shot;
please be assured that if you don't get into this clinic, you will
get into another
one.
There will be no "List" this year, just announcements in the
newsletter
as we get more vaccine in. There will also be several early morning
clinics throughout the season, which we will announce in the
newsletter
as well.
We are back to what we hope is a more normal flu season, which means
it will begin late November or early December, so there is plenty of
time
to get vaccinated. We are vaccinating children coming in for regular
check-ups, so if you have a check-up booked this fall, your child
can get
the vaccine then. Remember, children getting the flu vaccine for the
first
time need a booster at least 4 weeks later.
To all parents, especially parents of infants under 6 months:
please
get
your own flu vaccine!
Please note: this year's flu vaccine (either injection or nasal
spray)
contains protection against both H1N1 and regular flu in one
vaccine,
even though there is no H1N1 around at this time. Both are safe and
have
been joined to make protecting our patients easier.
There will be announcements in the Newsletter and here on the
website about future clinics. Please check there or here for the
latest news.
October 11th
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) the Hundred Day Cough
Many of you have seen the ad on TV for the Pertussis
vaccine Tdap which we give our patients aged 11 years and up. It is
also highly recommended for adults and we are urging all parents and
family members of our patients to get this vaccine.
There are serious outbreaks of Pertussis happening now, especially
in California and Michigan, where thousands of people are ill.
Pertussis is most serious for infants, which is why we start
Pertussis vaccination so early, at age 2 months. Pertussis can be a
terrible illness at any age, and has been called the Hundred Day
Cough. Indeed, you can cough that long from it (though not everyone
whoops).
So please call your own doctor or ask the Board of Health in your
town where you can get a combined Pertussis/Tetanus/Diptheria
vaccine. A plain tetanus shot is not enough.
Click on our CDC link and go to Pertussis to obtain more information. Go to
Pertussis: Multimedia to hear the
sound of an infant with Pertussis coughing or click
here.
October 7th
Safety Alert
Recalls are expected for SLEEP POSITIONERS for infants. These items
are marketed as devices to prevent crib death but there is no proof
they work and there is a huge concern that they are dangerous and
can lead to suffocation.
Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have serious concerns, as
does the American Academy of Pediatrics. Other worrisome products
include crib bumpers, breathable mattresses, wedges and foam pads.
NONE of these should be in an infant’s bassinet or crib. Please ask
your pediatrician at Swansea Pediatrics if you have any questions
about how your infant should sleep.
CPSC and FDA joint
News Release.
FDA hand-out
Infant Sleep Positioners Pose Suffocation Risk.
October 5th
Swansea Pediatrics Patient Portal
[Application Form]
The Swansea Pediatrics Patient Portal is now available to all our
patients. It can be reached directly from the link in the left hand
column on any page of our
website. Through the Patient Portal you can:
- Request a Well Child appointment
- Review upcoming appointments
- Request Refills of certain chronic prescriptions
- Request a Referral if your doctor has referred you to a specialist
- Change your personal information
In order to access the Portal, you must obtain a Username and Password by
filling out our application which is available
here and
returning it to our office.
In addition, you may download a one-page
overview of the Patient Portal
here.
September 27th
Flu clinic Sunday, October 17th, 9AM - 12Noon for combined
Seasonal/H1N1 vaccine
This clinic is open to all children: those that are healthy and
those at high risk. Please call the office at (508) 379-9605 to
schedule an appointment as this is not a walk-in clinic. There will
be many more opportunities for getting a flu shot; please be assured
that if you don't get into this clinic, you will get into another
one.
There will be no "List" this year, just
announcements in the Newsletter and here on the website as we get more vaccine in. There
will also be several early morning clinics throughout the season,
which we will announce here and in the Newsletter as well.
We are
back to what we hope is a more normal flu season, which means it
will begin late November or early December, so there is plenty of
time to get vaccinated. We are vaccinating children coming in for
regular check-ups, so if you have a check-up booked this fall, your
child can get the vaccine then. Remember, children getting the flu
vaccine for the first time need a booster at least 4 weeks later.
To all parents, especially parents of infants under 6 months:
please
get your own flu vaccine!
Please note: this year's flu
vaccine (either injection or nasal spray) contains protection
against both H1N1 and regular flu in one vaccine, even though there
is no H1N1 around at this time. Both are safe and have been joined
to make protecting our patients easier.
There will be
announcements in the Newsletter and here on the website about future clinics. Please check
there or here for the latest news.
September 15th
Flu Season 2010
High Risk Flu clinic planned for September 23, 7:30-9AM for combined
Seasonal/H1N1 vaccine
If your child has asthma, heart disease, diabetes or any other
chronic serious illness, please call the office for an appointment
for the above clinic. As there will be many more opportunities for
getting a flu shot, please be assured that if you don’t get into
this clinic, you will get into another one.
There will be no “List” this year, just announcements in the
Newsletter and on the
News page of our web site as we get more vaccine in. There will also be morning
flu clinics all season, first thing in the AM, to be announced
shortly.
We are back to what we expect will be a normal flu season, which
means we will start to see cases late November or early December, so
there is plenty of time to get vaccinated. We are vaccinating
children coming in for regular check-ups, so if you have a check-up
booked this fall, your child can get the vaccine then. Remember,
children getting the flu vaccine for the first time need a booster
at least 4 weeks later.
To all parents, and especially parents of infants under 6 months:
please get your own flu vaccine!
Please note: this year’s flu vaccine (either injection or nasal
spray) contains protection against both H1N1 and regular flu in one
vaccine, even though there is no H1N1 around at this time. Both are
safe and have been joined to make protecting our patients easier.
Also, we have both preservative free and vaccine with preservative;
a recent important study has confirmed the safety of the
preservative, so feel comfortable if your child gets either vaccine.
There will be weekly announcements in the
Newsletter and the
News page of the web site about our
next clinics. Please check there for the latest news.
August 29th
School/Sports Forms
We understand the need for school and sports forms to be filled out
for you. We complete them as quickly as possible but you must allow
5-7 days time before they are due. Please give them to us as early
as you can and, if you leave a stamped self-addressed envelope with
the form, we will mail it to you. Also, after every yearly physical,
be sure to take home one of our own forms which includes height,
weight, vaccine history and, if applicable, the entry "cleared for
sports". The requirements of many school and sports forms are
satisfied by simply attaching the Swansea Pediatrics form to the
school/sports form and writing "see attached" on the form.
August 2nd
Kelly Reynolds, M.D.
We at Swansea Pediatrics are very pleased to announce that Dr.
Kelly Reynolds has joined our group. Dr. Reynolds was born and
raised in Massachusetts. She graduated from Stonehill College in
Easton and went on to earn her MD degree from the University of
Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. She then completed
three years of pediatric residency training at the UMass Memorial
Children’s Medical Center.
Dr. Reynolds has always loved working with children and truly enjoys
building long-term relationships with families. When not
seeing patients, Dr. Reynolds enjoys spending time with her husband
and daughter, visiting with family nearby, and spending time at the
ocean.
July 17th
Drowning
The new captain jumped from the cockpit, fully dressed, and
sprinted through the water. A former lifeguard, he kept his eyes on
his victim as he headed straight for the owners who were swimming
between their anchored sportfisher and the beach. “I think he thinks
you’re drowning,” the husband said to his wife. They had been
splashing each other and she had screamed but now they were just
standing, neck-deep on the sand bar. “We’re fine, what is he doing?”
she asked, a little annoyed. “We’re fine!” the husband yelled,
waving him off, but his captain kept swimming hard. ”Move!” he
barked as he sprinted between the stunned owners. Directly behind
them, not ten feet away, their nine-year-old daughter was drowning.
Safely above the surface in the arms of the captain, she burst into
tears, “Daddy!”
How did this captain know, from fifty feet away, what the father
couldn’t recognize from just ten? Drowning is not the violent,
splashing, call for help that most people expect. The captain was
trained to recognize drowning by experts and years of experience.
The father, on the other hand, had learned what drowning looks like
by watching television. If you spend time on or near the water
(hint: that’s all of us) then you should make sure that you and your
crew knows what to look for whenever people enter the water. Until
she cried a tearful, “Daddy,” she hadn’t made a sound. As a former
Coast Guard rescue swimmer, I wasn’t surprised at all by this story.
Drowning is almost always a deceptively quiet event. The waving,
splashing, and yelling that dramatic conditioning (television)
prepares us to look for, is rarely seen in real life.
The Instinctive Drowning Response – so named by Francesco A. Pia,
Ph.D., is what people do to avoid actual or perceived
suffocation in the water. And it does not look like most
people expect. There is very little splashing, no waving, and
no yelling or calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of
just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be,
consider this: It is the number two cause of accidental death
in children, age 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents) – of
the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375
of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult.
In ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch
them do it, having no idea it is happening (source: CDC).
Drowning does not look like drowning – Dr. Pia, in an article in the
Coast Guard’s On Scene Magazine, described the instinctive drowning
response like this:
- Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically
unable to call out for help. Th e respiratory system was designed
for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function.
Breathing must be fulfilled, before speech occurs.
- Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above
the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not
above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale,
inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are
above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths
start to sink below the surface of the water.
- Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces
them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s
surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water, permits drowning
people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of
the water to breathe.
- Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot
voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning
people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop
drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help,
moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue
equipment.
- From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s
bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting
kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people
can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds
before submersion occurs.
(Source:
On Scene Magazine: Fall 2006)
This doesn’t mean that a person that is yelling for help and
thrashing isn’t in real trouble – they are experience aquatic
distress. Not always present before the instinctive drowning
response, aquatic distress doesn’t last long – but unlike true
drowning, these victims can still assist in there own rescue.
They can grab lifelines, throw rings, etc.
Look for these other signs of drowning when persons are n the water:
- Head low in the water, mouth at water level
- Head tilted back with mouth open
- Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
- Eyes closed
- Hair over forehead or eyes
- Not using legs – Vertical
- Hyperventilating or gasping
- Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
- Trying to roll over on the back
- Ladder climb, rarely out of the water
So if a crew member falls overboard and every looks O.K. – don’t be
too sure. Sometimes the most common indication that someone is
drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They
may just look like they are treading water and looking up at the
deck. One way to be sure? Ask them: “Are you
alright?” If they can answer at all – they probably are. If
they return a blank stare – you may have less than 30 seconds
to get to them. And parents: children playing in the water
make noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why.
Drowning Prevention
Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in children
older than 1 year of age in the United States. In fact, injuries
cause more deaths in children over age 1 year than the next seven
leading causes of death combined. Many pediatricians and parents are
unaware of the importance of drowning as a major cause of death in
children. From 2000 to 2006, drowning was the second leading cause
of death from unintentional injury among children aged 2-19
(Pediatrics 1994;94[pt. 1]:137-42).
In the 1- to 4-year age group, drowning causes nearly as many deaths
as motor vehicle crashes (28% compared with 29%). In 2006, 1,100
children under 20 years died from drowning, and in 2008, 3,800
children were treated in an emergency department for a nonfatal
drowning event and more than 60% were hospitalized, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the American Academy of Pediatrics' recently revised policy
statement entitled, “Prevention of Drowning,” new data and new risks
are highlighted, including the dangers of inflatable and portable
pools, drain-entrapment and entanglement injuries, and the possible
benefit of swimming lessons for young children.
Above-ground inflatable and portable pools have become increasingly
popular and pose a significant drowning risk to children. They often
fall outside local building codes for barriers, and children can
easily fall over the soft side.
From 1990 to 2004, 74 cases of body entrapment in a pool or spa
drain (13 deaths) and 43 incidents of hair entanglement (12 deaths)
were reported. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act
(effective December 2008) requires special drain covers, unblockable
drains, and safety vacuum-release systems for all public pools and
spas in the United States. These inexpensive and effective devices
should be strongly encouraged for all private pools and spas.
The AAP previously had recommended swimming lessons for all children
aged 4 years and older and continues to support this recommendation
for most children in this age group. For children aged 1-4 years
old, a recent National Institutes of Health study showed that
swimming lessons may provide a reduction in drowning risk. Drowning
victims were less likely than matched controls (3% vs. 26%) to have
had formal swimming lessons. Based on current evidence, the AAP does
not recommend for or against swimming lessons between 1 and 4 years
old. For children younger than 1 year of age, there are no data that
show swimming lessons are effective, and lessons for children that
young are not recommended by the AAP. Swimming lessons at any age do
not make a child drown proof nor lessen the need for effective pool
barriers and adequate supervision.
It is helpful to think of drowning prevention activities in three
distinct areas. The first is open bodies of water, such as oceans,
lakes, and rivers. Children should swim in areas with lifeguards and
never alone. Close and constant supervision is important. The depth
of water and bottom condition should be assessed before diving is
allowed.
The second area is pools: community pools, private inground pools,
and portable and inflatable pools. Four-sided fencing with a
self-latching and self-closing gate that completely separates the
pool from the house is important. “Touch supervision” (an
arm's-length away) is necessary for infants, toddlers, and weaker
swimmers, with constant eye contact by a dedicated observer for
older children. An adult should be present who is trained in CPR.
The third area is the bathroom. Children have drowned in mere inches
of water. An infant or young child should never be left alone in the
bathtub, even for a moment. Buckets of water should be emptied after
use.
The revised AAP policy statement has more helpful hints and
suggestions for pediatricians and parents. The new AAP Web site
www.healthychildren.org
is an excellent resource for parents.
12 Tips to Prevent Drowning
- Touch supervision is necessary for toddlers and constant eye
contact, for older children.
- Installing four-sided pool fencing with self-latching and
self-closing gates is important.
- Installing pool alarms helps.
- Installing pool and spa drain covers is important.
- Swim lessons are recommended for children over 4 years of age,
perhaps for those over 1 year.
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training is recommended.
- Children riding in watercraft should use a personal flotation
device (PFD) and a life jacket.
- Air-filled swim aids are not a PFD.
- Diving should be permitted only into water of known depth.
- Children should be taught to swim in open bodies of water only
when there are lifeguards.
- Supervising older children with seizure disorders is especially
important.
- Alcohol and drug use should be prohibited during swimming and
boating activities.
February 1st
Swansea Pediatrics is pleased to let you know we can now begin
giving second H1N1 (booster) vaccinations to our patients ages 7
months through 9 years (no second shot after the 10th birthday).
If your child can receive the second dose conveniently elsewhere,
please do, otherwise call our office Mondays-Thursdays between 12-2
and ask for Kayla, who will schedule your visit.
It is preferable to receive the same form of vaccination the first
and the second time: first dose and second dose both nasal spray or
both injections.
Please allow at least three weeks (21 days) since the first H1N1
dose, preferably four weeks (28 days).
Please inform your doctor if there has been a change in your child's
health history since she/he received the first H1N1 dose (for
example, developed asthma or an egg allergy).
While H1N1 cases are now reported to be less frequent in our area,
we are still encouraging second doses. There is some concern for the
virus increasing again in the spring.
January 29th
If your child has not yet received his or her First H1N1 vaccine,
please call our office between the hours of 12-2 and ask for Kayla.
She will make your appointment for this vaccination.
Early next week we will announce in the newsletter information about
the Second dose of the H1N1 vaccine. Hundreds of millions of doses
of this vaccine have been given world wide. It has proved to be a
very safe vaccine in all age groups.
December 28th
National H1N1 and regular flu news:
Happily, numbers continue to drop weekly for H1N1 across the US. So
far there is no significant spread of regular flu in our area. We
continue to encourage getting vaccinated for both, as we expect both
types of flu to continue to affect us for several months to come,
certainly through March and perhaps April.
Swansea Pediatrics H1N1 news:
We are finally getting more quantities of vaccine to distribute. We
are still giving priority to high risk patients and to patients who
are receiving vaccine for the first time. We are not yet giving
second H1N1 shots, but hope to soon. We will let you know here in
the newsletter.
Massachusetts H1N1 news:
There will be clinics across the state. As these clinics are planned
they will be posted on
flu.masspro.org and Mass residents are encouraged to
check back often for updates. All public clinics will offer the
vaccine free of charge; however, if one has insurance, bring your
insurance card. This will help defray costs incurred by local
officials in holding clinics. According to DPH, individuals will not
be charged or turned away.
The Seekonk Board of Health will hold an H1N1 clinic for children
ages 4-18 on Dec. 29th by appointment only. Call 508-336-2909.
Rhode Island H1N1 news:
The school-based clinics ended last week; 73% of children K-12
received vaccine. Children younger than 10 will get a second shot at
school-based clinics starting January 11th. The schedule for those
clinics will be posted Jan. 4th. College students who attend college
out of state are receiving vaccine at CCRI clinic over the January
break.
Certain retail pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and
Stop & Shop, will receive vaccine shipments by the end of December
and will hold clinics for individual over 18. There will be free
vaccinations at public clinics in many RI cities and towns in
January, open to all. The sites will be announced by the Health
Department.
December 16th
Good news: we are beginning to receive more frequent allotments
of H1N1 vaccine. We are still working on our list of patients;
however, we know that many patients have received the vaccine
elsewhere, perhaps at school, and that may be why many families do
not call back. That is fine; we want to keep our telephone lines as
free as possible for those who need to get through.
If your child is high risk and has not yet
received the vaccine, please call between 12 noon and 3 PM
when the phone is less busy and you are more likely to reach us.
We are doing our best to reach everyone
on the list and will continue to do so.
When we are out of vaccine (which will be temporary) we will post
that information here.
The other good news is that we are seeing fewer cases of
influenza-like illness and we are doing better in Massachusetts than
Rhode Island where it is still widespread. There is no regular flu
appearing in our area at this time.
December 3rd
Newsflash - There is an H1N1 flu clinic being held at Matthew J. Kuss
Middle School located at 52 Globe Mills Ave (off Bay Street) in
Fall River on Sunday between the hours of 10-5 on a first come first
serve basis. It is open to all children ages 10-18 that are Fall River
residents. We don’t know if it is nasal spray or a shot. We would
recommend getting there early if you are interested.
November 30th
Thank you for your continued patience. The 100 doses of Nasal Spray vaccine
referred to below have been allocated. We will let you know immediately again
when more vaccine arrives. Anyone who is on our H1N1 vaccine list
does not need to call; we will call you.
November 29th
Good news.
H1N1 disease numbers are falling off though the H1N1 is still
widespread in MA and RI. We believe it has reached its peak in
November. We do expect it to continue to go around all winter, even
into the spring.
More Nasal Spray vaccine has been received. We have H1N1 Nasal Spray
which can be used for children above age 2 years and who have no
history of asthma within the past 12 months. It is safe and at least
as effective as the injection vaccine. It is a live virus vaccine,
which means that the viruses have nearly been killed but not quite.
These weakened viruses can cause an immune response, so most
children who receive it will not get H1N1 flu if they are exposed.
We have less than 100 doses, so if you are interested, please call
the office.
Many of our patients are being vaccinated at school in RI and in
Somerset. Please take advantage of this opportunity.
There is still little resistance to Tamiflu, the medication we are
using for some patients (not all need it) to treat H1N1. This means
that this drug still works to slow the virus from multiplying
itself, shortening the time of illness. There are side effects, so
that is one reason we don’t give it to everyone.
The studies on all the flu vaccines this year, both Nasal Spray and
Injection, show these to be very safe vaccines. You may hear stories
about people getting sick after the vaccine. This is a
coincidence, especially in children, who tolerate these vaccines
very well.
For your information:
We are still waiting for more doses of H1N1 and appreciate your
patience in this matter. In the next few weeks, we expect to receive
more and we will let you know.
There is very little regular flu going around, though it has begun
in some areas and is expected to increase. Please continue to get
vaccinated yourselves, parents, and we will continue to vaccinate
your children as more regular flu vaccine becomes available. You
will read about it here.
November 14th
As of right now, there will be no second dose of H1N1 for anyone. If
you have an appointment for a second dose H1N1, consider it
cancelled; no need to call. We will continue with second doses of
Regular flu vaccine when available.
The flu going around now is 99.5% H1N1. It is close to peaking here
in Southern New England and will taper off over the next few weeks.
Regular flu season is still on its way, probably within a few
weeks. It usually starts in late November and peaks in February. We
are hoping it will be mild, as usually only one flu will dominate.
We are getting new doses of H1N1 vaccine in small amounts. We are
calling those on the high risk list to come in. When all our high risk
patients are taken care of, we will have more flu clinics and will
let you know when and how to sign up.
Fortunately, many of our patients are getting H1N1 at school, mostly
in RI but some in Massachusetts, including Somerset, from the 5th grade up.
Please take advantage of the school vaccine.
Reminders:
Please understand we are trying as hard as we can with a limited
supply to provide vaccine for all who need and want it, while still
caring for a huge influx of sick patients. We are working very hard
on getting your phone calls answered as quickly as we can and
apologize for any delays.
When to call the office if your child is sick
Even children who have always been healthy before or had the flu
before can get a severe case of flu. Call your doctor if:
- Your child is under age two and you think he/she has the flu
Also, call your doctor right away if your child of any age has:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish or gray skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Not waking up or not interacting
- Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
- Has other conditions (like heart or lung disease, diabetes, or
asthma) and develops flu symptoms, including a fever and/or cough
People at High Risk for Developing Flu-Related Complications
- Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2
years old
-
Adults 65 years of age and older
-
Pregnant women
- People who have medical conditions including:
- Asthma
- Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions [including disorders
of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as
cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual
disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental
delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury]
- Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
-
Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive
heart failure and coronary artery disease)
- Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
- Endocrine disorders (such as
diabetes mellitus)
- Kidney disorders
- Liver disorders
- Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and
mitochondrial disorders)
- Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people
with HIV or AIDS,
or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
- People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term
aspirin therapy
November 4th
We at Swansea Pediatrics are working day and
night to care for your children. We apologize that the phones are
clogged and that we cannot see everyone who is ill.
Please understand that we have never
seen walk-in patients and we especially cannot now. Most patients
with either H1N1 or seasonal flu do not need to be seen. If you are not sure, please
call, though it may take a while to get through; but read the
following first.
For most of us, the flu will be a self-limiting disease which
requires rest, Tylenol or ibuprofen (never real aspirin), and, of
course, plenty
of fluids. Typical flu symptoms are a temp over
101 (may be as high as 103-105), muscle aches, fatigue, cough,
headache, sore throat and, sometimes, nausea and vomiting. The
fever associated with the flu often lasts 3-5 days and the
cough will last a couple weeks.
However, if you experience any of the following, we would want to see you in the office
or send you to the hospital:
- fever lasts longer than 5 days
- there is shortness of breath
- the fever goes away
for 24 hours and then comes back with increased effort to breathe
- dehydration develops
If you just have the typical
symptoms of the flu we encourage you to stay home and take care of
yourselves with the aforementioned measures. Children who are
fever free for 24 hours may return to school.
Children at higher risk from the flu include those with moderate to
severe asthma and other lung problems, heart or neurological
conditions, metabolic disorders, any child on immunosuppression, or
any child on aspirin therapy. Also, pregnant women seem to be
more at risk. If your child or any one in your immediate
family falls into any of these categories, we encourage you to call
early in the course of the illness to discuss treatment options such
as Tamiflu.
Tamiflu is the medication sometimes used to treat either flu. It
does not cure the flu, but it can shorten the sick period, make
symptoms milder and keep children with serious underlying problems
from becoming terribly ill. We cannot overuse this medication or
resistance will develop; then we are without any drug. Your doctor
will make this decision on a case by case basis.
TAMIFLU SIDE EFFECTS:
More than half of pediatric patients taking Tamiflu report at least
one side effect. Gastrointestinal side effects are seen in
around 40% of patients and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or
stomach pain/cramps. Neurologic side effects are seen in
approximately 20% of children and include sleep disturbances (12% of
patients), poor concentration, confusion, nightmares, and behavior
changes. Neurologic side effects are seen more often in older
children (middle school and above).
It is important to get information from reliable sources: our
newsletter and our website’s links to Hasbro and to
Children’s Hospital are the places to start for reliable information.
Additionally, the CDC
has terrific
information about the H1N1 Vaccine. The TV can be the worst
place to get complete news about either flu because the information is delivered
in soundbites rather than in depth!
We in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are now experiencing an intense
spread of this virus. This will go on for several weeks and the
regular flu season will start within the month and the two will
overlap. It will be hard to tell who has which, and, as of right now,
it doesn’t really matter. The treatment is the same, the risks will
likely be the same and the recovery will be the same, just like
every other winter. The main difference this year is that H1N1 went
through the summer and appears to be more contagious. We are not
testing routinely for either right now; we are following CDC
guidelines.
If you have routine issues (a note for school, a form to be filled
out), please send us a note (with a stamped self-addressed envelope)
or a fax and we’ll do the best we can. Please emphasize to your school
not to require absence notes during this time.
We are all saddened by the deaths of two Rhode Island girls from
probable H1N1 infection. While this is certainly frightening to all
of us, we must realize that the vast majority of us will recover
easily and completely from H1N1.
We are continuing to give H1N1 vaccine to those on our high risk
lists. We do not have much vaccine at the present time and will let
you know when more arrives and how to contact us if you are not on a
list.
October 25th
What Does It Mean That H1N1 Has Been Declared An Emergency By
The President?
- It does not mean that the disease is more serious, or more
dangerous, it means that it is becoming very widespread.
- It is for practical
reasons, to help hospitals, so they can open new beds off-site (in a
satellite clinic for example) for any overflow of patients.
- It allows the hospitals more flexibility in dealing with an excess
of patients, so the hospitals can still get paid for what they do.
Because regular flu is on its way in a few weeks, doctors’ offices
and hospital ERs will be very, very busy.
While H1N1 has become more widespread in New England this past week, there is no
cause for alarm. Most patients are not seriously ill. Unfortunately,
we are receiving the vaccine in small quantities, so must take care
of our most vulnerable patients first.
For those
families who are already on the list to receive vaccine, rest assured
that you will be called as soon as we receive enough vaccine to take
care of you. If you are on the list, there is no need to check in;
we have your names and we will call you as soon as we can
accommodate
you. If your child was on the high risk list last year, he/she will
be this year, too.
Right now, we are vaccinating our
high risk patients as quickly as we can. Because of the temporary
shortage, we can only take care of a limited number in October. We
are expecting more H1N1 vaccine in November, though vaccine
production has been delayed by slow growth of the strain of virus
needed to make the vaccine.
We want everyone who wishes
to be vaccinated to be taken care of, because we want everyone to
stay healthy. Please be patient as we are doing the best we can
under difficult circumstances.
There will be
announcements in the newsletter weekly to let you all know. Please
do not call the office before checking the newsletter.
Thanks for your patience. Again, there is no cause for alarm. Not
everyone will get either H1N1 or regular flu this year and the vast
majority who get either flu will recover uneventfully.
October 21st
Swansea Pediatrics is receiving small amounts of H1N1 flu vaccine
and we are immunizing our high risk patients. Please call if your
child is high risk (under 2, asthma, other serious medical
conditions, obese—please refer to previous newsletters or see our
link to Children’s Hospital flu web site).
Good news for Rhode Islanders and for kids who go to school in Rhode Island:
- H1N1(swine) flu vaccine will be offered in Rhode Island
schools later this fall.
- Clinics for elementary
school children will be held 4-8PM and require the presence of a
parent.
- Clinics for Middle School and High
School will be held during school hours and require parental
signature on a permission form.
- Call your school
for information or check the school website or check:
www.RIpbs.org/flu
Good news for uninsured adults in
Rhode Island:
- There will be free clinics in
Rhode Island at Pharmacies and in large retail stores. Contact the
Department of Health at 401-222-8022
Commonly Asked Questions About Flu (both regular and H1N1):
- Is there a lot of flu right now in Mass. and Rhode Island?
H1N1 (swine) is
very big in other parts of the country. It is present in Mass. and Rhode
Island and is about to become widespread. Regular seasonal flu hasn’t
started yet; it usually starts appearing in November.
- Are both flu vaccines safe? Yes, both flu shots are made in the same
way flu shots have been for 30 years. The nasal spray is also very
safe.
- Can we get the shot or nose spray if we are sick?
Yes, if the illness is mild like a stomach bug or cold. If there is
a fever, put off getting the vaccine.
- Is there thimerosol in the shots? Yes, in the multi-dose bottle. Thimerosol
is very safe and has nothing to do with autism.
- Should those with egg allergy get the vaccine?
No, but if you have a
serious medical problem and want it, ask your allergist if special
testing is a good idea.
- Can my children get H1N1 and
regular flu shots the same day? Yes, the shots definitely, but not
the nose spray vaccine. The regular flu nose spray vaccine and the
H1N1 nose spray vaccine must be separated by 4 weeks.
- Can my child get the nose spray if someone in the family has a
serious medical problem such as receiving cancer treatments?
Yes, the only
reason that would stand in the way is someone in the family having a
Bone Marrow Transplantation.
- Who needs two doses of vaccine? Only children aged 9 or younger
need a booster to make sure they get a good response.
- How do we get either flu?
The flu virus enters our bodies usually through the eyes or nose. When
someone coughs or sneezes who has the flu, a cloud of virus-filled
droplets fills the air for about 3 feet in front of the person who
coughed or sneezed. If you are within the three feet, the droplets
land on you and can enter your body through your eyes or nose. If he
wipes his drippy nose, then shakes your hand or borrows your pen or
turns a doorknob that you then use, those germs are easily spread to
you when you rub your eyes, or scratch your nose. It is that simple!
- How can I keep my kids from getting either flu?
Since the viruses
can live for hours on a surface such as a desk, doorknob or faucet,
show them how to wash hands frequently and well, for 20 seconds
with soap, and to close the faucet while holding a paper towel and to use
hand sanitizers. Teach them to try not touching their eyes and nose
if possible.
- Should I wear a mask if I am caring for
someone with either flu and how else can I keep from getting sick?
Yes, it is a good idea to wear a mask and glasses to keep from
getting sick. Wearing a mask and eyewear reminds us not to touch our
nose and eyes, which we all do without thinking, and that is where
the virus enters the body most often. Teach everyone who is ill to
cough or sneeze into a tissue, dispose of it and then wash their hands or,
if they don’t have a tissue, to cough or sneeze into their elbow area, not their hand.
October 14th
Swansea Pediatrics is beginning to receive H1N1 vaccine, both
nose spray and the injection forms. We are receiving small amounts
at a time, so we are asking for your patience.
Please read below and call for an appointment if your child fits the listed
categories. Regular, healthy children who do not have young infant
siblings will be given vaccine later in the fall as we get more.
Please understand that we do our best to take care of everyone and
we are working 7 days a week to vaccinate everyone who needs to be
vaccinated. (Parents, please click the link to Charlton’s web site for vaccines
for yourselves.)
We must first take care of our high
risk patients, who include children with asthma or other lung
diseases, other chronic illnesses which include diabetes, immune
system disorders, conditions that require chronic aspirin or
chemotherapy, children who have had heart surgery or are on heart
medication, and children with serious nervous system, kidney or
liver problems.
We also want to vaccinate the
siblings of the above children and the siblings of infants under age
six months now.
The good news:
Massachusetts is
not reporting high numbers of flu patients, which is good for the
moment. Remember, the vast majority of children who get H1N1 flu
will recover uneventfully, so there is no cause for alarm.
The H1N1 vaccine appears to be as safe as the regular flu vaccine,
which is a very, very safe vaccine. Both of these vaccines have been
made the same way for 30 years, so they are very well understood, well
tolerated, and almost never lead to anything worse than a sore arm.
For prevention, always the best way to go, please check
this link for excellent guidance on how to care for someone who is already
sick:
Remember, to avoid getting
sick and getting others sick, teach your children to wash hands
frequently. To print this poster and share with others, click on the
link below:
September 14th
H1N1 SWINE FLU VACCINATION
(and don’t forget the good old regular flu!)
What we know so far is that H1N1 flu is a very contagious flu that
is rarely serious for otherwise healthy people. It can be serious
for those who are very young, pregnant or who have other serious
diseases already. There is no reason for panic.
H1N1 vaccine is currently being tested for effectiveness and
safety. Of course, we at Swansea Pediatrics will only give this
vaccine if we believe it to be safe. Many years ago there was a
swine flu vaccine that caused rare but serious complications. This
vaccine is brand new and being tested right now widely.
The first H1N1 vaccine will be available in mid to late October. Swansea Pediatrics
will give the vaccine to our patients (sorry, none to parents). We
will let you know when we have it and when we will have flu clinics.
Those who should get the vaccine:
High risk groups:
· 1. Pregnant women
· 2. Persons who live with or provide care for infants aged < 6
months
· 3. Health-care and emergency medical services personnel.
· 4. Persons 6 months to 24 years
· 5. Persons 25-64 who have medical conditions which put them
at higher risk for influenza- related complications
If the vaccine supply is less than expected, then groups 1-3 above
will get the vaccine first, then those who are 6 months to 4 years
of age and then 5-18 year olds with medical conditions which put
them at higher risk for complications (asthma, diabetes, chronic
aspirin therapy).
It is expected to be a series of two vaccines 21-28 days apart.
We do have some good news however. As compared to the outbreak in
spring, the CDC has lessened the restrictions on returning to work
or going back to school. The recommendations now are 24 hours
fever free and then you may return to work or school.
What about regular flu vaccines? Good question! Let us not forget
that we expect the usual flu we get every winter, too. We will give
that vaccine throughout the fall and early winter as we usually do.
We will send out email notices when we have new information for you on
when flu clinics will be. We will also have notices written up and
available in the office.
