Please see this handout for more information on Pertussis in general.   See this handout for local information from the City of Berkeley Public Health.  Some general take-home points:

• This disease is most serious for infants under 6mo old.
• Adolescents and adults are at-risk for the infection as their pertussis immunity has likely waned by 12 years old.   The illness manifests as chronic cough so is inconvenient and uncomfortable for adolescents, but not dangerous.   The biggest problem is transmission of the infection to infants.
• Adolescents need a booster at 11 years old and up, (the Tdap vaccine, which is offered routinely at a well-check), but patients can come in for a nurse immunization visit if desired.
• Children get 3 doses of the DTaP vaccine over the first 6months of life, the 4th dose at 18months, and the 5th dose at 5 years, so fully immunized children under 10 years old are actually quite well protected.
• Infants can start the DTaP vaccine as early as 6wks old (we typically give it at the 2month visit), so please call for a 6wk nurse immunization visit if you have an infant under 6wks old at home.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

To summarize, who should come in for a Pertussis vaccine (DTaP or Tdap):

• Adolescents over age 11 (it will also be offered routinely at the next well check)
• One month old infants can get their first DTaP vaccine at six wks RATHER than routinely at the 2month visit

For parents who suspect their child may have Pertussis, please contact your doctor.

This is a great time to schedule your school-age child or teen's well-check.

The recommended daily dose of vitamin D is 400 IU/day.  If necessary this can be given as a supplement, available over-the-counter in various preparations.   Check the label and directions for the appropriate daily dose.

Feel free to discuss vitamin D supplementation with your doctor at your next visit.

Note that sunscreen IS now allowed in under 6 month old children, used minimally.

Hopefully we are moving away from the shortages of H1N1 vaccine that have plagued the local community!

We will do our best to accomodate requests made through Relay Health, though our supplies remain quite limited.  Note that public health flu clinics are being scheduled, see the previous announcement.

We wish you all the best.

Berkeley Pediatrics

This injectable seasonal flu vaccine does NOT contain thimerosal.   

We have not received any more H1N1 vaccines. 

Again, we will let you know as soon as we receive more H1 N1 vaccine.   

If your child fits into one of the below high risk groups, please email our office through *RelayHealth.com. Please include your child’s name and which high risk group he/she falls into.   

• Patients with asthma who have been on steroids within the last year (flovent, pulmicort, orapred, advair, asmanex, symbicort, QVar.)
• Any patients whose mother is pregnant.
• Patients with cancer, diabetes, significant heart disease, immune problems.

When we receive more H1N1 vaccine, we will be contact these high risk patients first. 

If your child is not in one of the above groups, please have patience. We have no control over when and how many vaccines we have or will receive but will be posting more updates as we receive more vaccines.    
 

*Go to RelayHealth.com and lookup your doctor and the zipcode 94709, then select your doctor and click the "register" button to go through the registration process.  Use the "request appointment" function to send a message.  We must use RelayHealth for secure direct two-way communications with patients, by federal law.   We apologize for the hassle of registration, be assured that RelayHealth is a reputable company, and will not use your information for marketing purposes

Alameda County: http://www.acphd.org/H1N1/documents/POD_Clinic_Schedule_Current.pdf

Berkeley Schools: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/SubUnitHome.aspx?id=11124

Contra Costa County: http://cchealth.org/topics/swine_flu/vaccination.php

Contra Costa School District: http://www.cccoe.k12.ca.us/news/clinics.html#list