09/10/2025
Hello,
Fall and the school year have returned and with that starts cold and flu season. We now have flu vaccine clinics available to schedule your appointment. The optimal time for best protection is to get flu vaccine before the end of October.
The easiest and best way to schedule your flu vaccine is through patient gateway following the simple steps below:
· Log into patient gateway under the patient's account
· In the main menu (three horizontal stacked lines), choose "schedule an appointment"
· Scroll down and choose "flu shot"
· Choose Middleboro Pediatrics for location and press continue
· Choose the available date and time slot that works best for you.
If you are having trouble finding a time slot which works for you, or you have questions regarding the vaccine, you may call to speak with one of our staff at 508-947-0630.
For our school-aged and older patients, there is the additional option of going to a local pharmacy to get your flu vaccine. You do not require a prescription from our office for this.
Please also note: Children 6 months to 8 years of age should receive 2 doses if this is the first time they are being vaccinated against influenza, or if they have only received one dose of flu vaccine ever before July 1. The doses are given four weeks apart from each other.
Influenza is a leading cause of illness, hospitalization and school absences in children during the school year. Risks of severe complications and death from the flu are significantly lowered by getting an annual flu vaccine.
Key data/facts from last year's flu season in the US:
· A total of 266 influenza-associated pediatric deaths occurring during the 2024-2025 season have been reported to CDC. This is the highest number of pediatric deaths reported in any non-pandemic influenza season since the condition became reportable in 2004.
· Among children who died and were eligible for influenza vaccination and with known vaccine status, 90% of reported pediatric deaths for the 2024-2025 season (compared to 82% during the 2023-2024 season) occurred in children who were not fully vaccinated against influenza.
· Just over 42% of those who died were children without high-risk health conditions.
· Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2025-week-29.html
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/Pages/aap-releases-influenza-vaccine-recommendations-for-2025-26-season.aspx
The AAP recommends that children and teens receive an annual influenza vaccine this fall to keep them healthy and active in the classroom as they begin a new school year. An AAP policy statement, "Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2025–2026," advises that al...