It’s that time again, folks. Time to get your child vaccinated against the flu? Why? With all that sniffling, sneezing and sharing of space and materials in the classroom, your child is even more prone to infection. And who wants to be sick during the holidays?

Influenza season is unpredictable. It can begin as early as October and can continue through May. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all people 6 months and older be vaccinated against the flu.

That means you, too, parents. Especially those considered “high risk,” including those with asthma, diabetes or chronic lung disease; pregnant women; people 65 years and older; and those who live with or care for others who are high risk of developing serious complications.

We say, “Why risk it?” when the (CDC) estimates that 35 to 50 million Americans, or approximately 25 percent of the population, come down with the flu each year.

Why vaccinate every year?

A flu vaccine is needed every year because flu viruses are constantly changing, and annual flu vaccines are formulated to keep up. Getting vaccinated each year provides the best protection.

What does the vaccine prevent?

Flu vaccines are designed to protect against three influenza viruses that experts predict will be the most common this season, including influenza B viruses, influenza A (H1N1) viruses, and influenza A (H3N2) viruses.

Classic symptoms

The flu can produce a high-grade fever, up to 104 F (40 C), chills, muscle aches, headaches, sore throat, dry cough, and just plain feeling sick. These symptoms usually last for three to four days, but cough and tiredness may linger for one to two weeks after the fever has gone away.

In younger children

Influenza may resemble other respiratory tract infections, such as croup, bronchitis or pneumonia. Abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea are not uncommon. A small child may also have a high temperature and be irritable – who can blame them!

To schedule a flu vaccine

Call Eugene Pediatrics at 541-484-5437 today to schedule your child’s flu vaccine. Flu shots for adults can be obtained at Lane County Public Health Department, area drug stores and doctor’s offices.

The next time you visit Eugene Pediatric Associates, you will notice some exciting changes. In addition to adding two new doctors to our family of pediatric care providers, we have expanded our clinic.

Located just across the hall, you’ll discover newly remodeled exam rooms, business offices, nurses’ station and lobby. Bright colors, artwork and modern lighting make this a fun and welcoming space that we hope our families will enjoy.

When you make your appointment, we will let you know at which desk to check in and the proper lobby, where you’ll wait to be seen by one of our doctors, nurse practitioners or nurses. Signs posted outside each of our internal doors will indicate where your provider is located on the day you visit.

We will rotate providers in and out of the new space so that all of our patients can enjoy it.

By adding 3,000 square feet, we hope to better meet the needs of our patients. We will continue to make it a priority to provide same-day appointments and the best possible care for your children.

We look forward to seeing you!

Eugene Pediatric Associates is growing. And like the children we care for and adore, we’re not just getting bigger. We’re getting stronger. We’ve added two new doctors to your family of pediatric care providers.

Dr. Angela Romanoski, who joined Eugene Pediatric in September, has a big picture perspective on health care. From her love of exercise and yoga to her advocacy work in the Oregon Legislature, she understands that good health and a strong health care system is about more than getting a prescription when you don’t feel well.

Dr. Romanoski is also conversational in Spanish. We love having a doctor on board with this skill. We believe that many of the families we serve will be more at ease and more engaged with their child’s care when they can communicate with a doctor in their own language.

Dr. Alison Chase, who has also joined our team, graduated from Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. She practices the full scope of medicine, equivalent to that of a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). Her education allows her to use principles that emphasize the interrelationship between the body's structure and function, and recognize the body's ability to heal itself.

The principals of wellness and prevention are ones we all embrace at Eugene Pediatric Associates, so we appreciate Dr. Chase’s perspective.

We hope you meet both of these fine doctors soon, because they not only are part of our team. They are part of your team. Having two new doctors on staff will allow us to get you into the office more quickly when your child needs to see a doctor.

When you think of your child’s “pediatrician,” we want you to think of the whole team here: Our four doctors, our three nurse practitioners, our nurses and the rest of the staff.

Kids have a way of spiking a high fever or falling out of a tree at inopportune times, sometimes when “your regular pediatrician” is out of town or otherwise unavailable, so we want you to feel at home with everyone:
• Caring staff members who greet you at the front desk;
• Nurses who help take care of your child;
• Nurse practitioners who handle many day-to-day medical concern;
• And all of our doctors, who may see your child at one time or another.

We’re all here for you, every step of the way!