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Special Feature

Flu & Pneumonia Shots

Barton Memorial Hopital
Public Relations Department
2092 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Ste 400
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Health Hotline: (530) 543-5830
Phone: (530) 543-5615

Barton Memorial Hospital Vaccination dates and location…

Concerns about vaccination…
Who should get vaccinated?
What strains will be vaccinated against this flu season?
Pnuemococcal (Pneumonia) Shots…
Download Information Sheet for Flu Vaccine
Download Information Sheet for Pnuemonia Vaccine
Contact Us

Note: The content provided on this page is for informational purposes only. Flu and pneumonia shots are not for persons with certain medical conditions. Consult your physician before receiving any vaccinations.

All information on this page provided by the Centers for Disease Control website. For additional information, visit www.cdc.gov/flu.

Concerns about vaccination:

Thimerosal and Preservatives…
Active vs. Inactive vaccination types…
Guillain-Barré Syndrome…

Thimerosal and Peservatives: 

LAIV does not contain thimerosal. Thimerosal preservative-containing inactivated influenza vaccines, distributed in multi-dose containers in the United States, contain 25 mcg of mercury/0.5-mL dose.

The risks for severe illness from influenza infection are elevated among both young children and pregnant women, and both groups benefit from vaccination by preventing illness and death from influenza. In contrast, no scientifically conclusive evidence exists of harm from exposure to thimerosal preservative-containing vaccine, whereas evidence is accumulating of lack of any harm resulting from exposure to such vaccines. Therefore, the benefits of influenza vaccination outweigh the theoretical risk, if any, for thimerosal exposure through vaccination. Nonetheless, certain persons remain concerned regarding exposure to thimerosal. The U.S. vaccine supply for infants and pregnant women is in a period of transition during which the availability of thimerosal-reduced or thimerosal-free vaccine intended for these groups is being expanded by manufacturers as a feasible means of reducing an infant's total exposure to mercury because other environmental sources of exposure are more difficult or impossible to eliminate. Reductions in thimerosal in other vaccines have been achieved already and have resulted in substantially lowered cumulative exposure to thimerosal from vaccination among infants and children. For all of these reasons, persons recommended to receive inactivated influenza vaccine may receive either vaccine preparation, depending on availability.

Active vs. Inactive vaccination types: 

Both inactivated influenza vaccine and LAIV are available to reduce the risk for influenza infection and illness. However, the vaccines also differ in key ways.

Major Similarities:

LAIV and inactivated influenza vaccine contain strains of influenza viruses that are antigenically equivalent to the annually recommended strains: one influenza A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus, and one B virus. Each year, one or more virus strains might be changed on the basis of global surveillance for influenza viruses and the emergence and spread of new strains. Viruses for both vaccines are grown in eggs. Both vaccines are administered annually to provide optimal protection against influenza infection.

Major Differences:

Inactivated influenza vaccine contains killed viruses, whereas LAIV contains live, attenuated viruses still capable of replication. LAIV is administered intranasally by sprayer, whereas inactivated influenza vaccine is administered intramuscularly by injection. LAIV is more expensive than inactivated influenza vaccine, although the price differential between inactivated vaccine and LAIV has decreased for the 2005--06 season. LAIV is approved for use among healthy persons aged 5-49 years; inactivated influenza vaccine is approved for use among persons aged >6 months, including those who are healthy and those with chronic medical conditions.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome: 

Guillain-Barré (ghee-yan bah-ray) syndrome is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances, the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. Usually Guillain-Barré occurs a few days or weeks after the patient has had symptoms of a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. Occasionally, surgery or vaccinations will trigger the syndrome. The disorder can develop over the course of hours or days, or it may take up to 3 to 4 weeks.

Most people reach the stage of greatest weakness within the first 2 weeks after symptoms appear, and by the third week of the illness 90 percent of all patients are at their weakest. The recovery period may be as little as a few weeks or as long as a few years. About 30 percent of those with Guillain-Barré still have a residual weakness after 3 years. About 3 percent may suffer a relapse of muscle weakness and tingling sensations many years after the initial attack.

The 1976 swine influenza vaccine was associated with an increased frequency of GBS. Among persons who received the swine influenza vaccine in 1976, the rate of GBS was <10 cases/1 million persons vaccinated. The risk for influenza vaccine-associated GBS is higher among persons aged >25 years. Obtaining strong epidemiologic evidence for a possible limited increase in risk is difficult for such a rare condition as GBS, which has an annual incidence of 10-20 cases/1 million adults.

Who should get vaccinated?

Persons at Increased Risk for Complications

Vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine is recommended for the following persons who are at increased risk for complications from influenza:

High Risk Groups/High Priority Vaccinations:

Later Vaccinations (Providing vaccine availability):

Who Should NOT Get Vaccinated?

Persons who should not be vaccinated without consulting a physician:

Persons Who Should Not Be Vaccinated with Live, Attenuated Influenza Vaccine:

What Strains will be Vaccinated Against this Flu Season?

  • A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus

  • A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus

  • B/Florida/4/2006-like virus

 

Vaccination Dates, Times & Location

Click here to download a flyer.

Community Flu and Pneumonia shots will be held inside Barton Hospital at the Barton Mountain Café, located at 2170 South Ave. in South Lake Tahoe, on the following dates:

Community Flu and Pneumonia shots will also be held at Stateline Medical Center, located at 155 Hwy 50 in Stateline, on the following dates:

Flu shots will be $20 each, Pneumonia shots will be $35 each.
Medicare patients, bring your Medicare card and your insurance will be billed.

Pnuemoccocal (Pneumonia) Shots

Who should get vaccinated?

How often should I be vaccinated?

In general, if you receive your first pneumonia shot before age 65, you should get a one time revaccination in 5 years.  If you get your first pneumonia shot after age 65, another vaccination is not recommended for the rest of your life.  The pneumonia vaccine pamphlet states "revaccination following a second dose is not routinely recommended." Questions regarding revaccination should be directed to your Primary Care Physician.

Disclaimer
The health-related information and resources on this website are provided for general information purposes only. They are never intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and may not be applicable to any particular condition. Always consult a qualified medical professional for the diagnosis or treatment of any disease or other health concern or before beginning a fitness regimen. Some of the content and health resources found on this site are provided and maintained by other parties. Though we strive to obtain such materials from reliable sources, they may contain inaccuracies or outdated information. We do not endorse or guarantee any of these materials. Please use these materials only in conjunction with the advice of a qualified medical professional. Neither the Barton HealthCare System nor any of its affiliated entities, agents or suppliers will be responsible or liable for any claim of loss or damage resulting from the use of this site or the information and resources contained in or accessible through this site. Other disclaimers may apply as noted on certain pages of the site

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