News Releases and Media Resources - White-Wilson Medical Center

FORT WALTON BEACH, Florida – September 2, 2011 – Flu season is just around the corner and the community is already buzzing about the annual influenza vaccine. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you consult with your physician on which version of the vaccine is best for you and to determine if there is any reason you should not receive the vaccine.

“There are certain risks to flu vaccination that we believe your primary care doctor is best positioned to address with you,” said Dr. Frank Francone, a board certified family medicine physician with White-Wilson Medical Center’s Immediate Care Clinic. “This is most important for patients with multiple medical illnesses and chronic medical diseases. Your primary care physician is ideally suited to counsel you on the risks and benefits of the influenza vaccination, taking into consideration your past medical history, medication use, allergies, etc., and can advise you if there is a reason you should not get the flu vaccine.”

There are several variations of the influenza vaccine which include a nasal mist, the regular flu shot and the high-dose flu shot. The nasal flu mist is the live but weakened flu vaccine that is given to healthy patients 2 to 49 years of age. The regular flu shot is for patients 6 months to 64 years old, and the high dose flu vaccine is for patients 65 years and older. Patients 65 years and older generally do not respond to the standard dose flu vaccine, and are also more likely to be hospitalized or die from flu complications. All variations of the vaccine are now available at White-Wilson Medical Center.

“The main advantage of early immunization is that it ensures you get the vaccine if the supply is limited and you are protected in case the flu season peaks early,” said Dr. Francone. “It takes the body about 2 weeks to form protective antibodies. Vaccination should occur before the traditional peak of the flu season so that protective antibodies are already in place when the peak of flu season arrives.”

The CDC recommends that people get the vaccine as soon as it is available. Patients can call schedule an appointment to receive the vaccination in White-Wilson’s Pediatric, Family Practice, Internal Medicine and Immediate Care Clinics. For individuals certain of the type of vaccination needed, White-Wilson will offer a Flu Shot Clinic at the main Fort Walton Beach campus. Details on the Flu Clinic will be available at www.white-wilson.com. The flu shot is covered 100% by most major insurance companies with no co-pay necessary.