Flu vaccines available for young people with medical problems





Pediatric Affiliates, with offices in Agoura Hills and West Hills, has extra flu vaccines and is offering to immunize anyone—even young people who aren’t patients—from birth to age 21, if they meet the flu vaccine requirements.


According to Dr. Beth Melin-Perel of Pediatric Affiliates, the Agoura Hills and West Hills medical offices ordered the standard amount of about 4,000 vaccinations for this year’s flu season and about 1,000 inoculations are still available.


"This (year’s amount of vaccines) would have been the appropriate number for our patients if we would have immunized everybody the way we usually do," Melin-Perel said. "But now, (the state) is restricting us as to who we can immunize."


Due to flu vaccine shortages in the United States, the government now requires that only those in dire need get immunized. Physicians’ offices or clinics that immunize patients who don’t meet the flu vaccine requirements can be fined and even face jail time.


"The public health department is short of vaccines and we tried our best to call them several times to tell them that we can send them some vaccines," Melin-Perel said, "but they never got back to us." That’s when Pediatric Affiliates decided to offer the extra flu shots to the public.


Those eligible for vaccinations at Pediatric Affiliates include:


•Anyone between the ages of 6 months and 23 months


•Anyone up to age 21 who has a chronic disease such as diabetes or asthma or who takes daily aspirin therapy or who’s vulnerable to medical complications


•Kids who live with new siblings up to 6 months old


Those who want the flu shot must pay $40 in cash, which will include a visit by the doctor, according to Melin-Perel.


The clinic will provide flu shots into the month of December or until the supplies run out.


To get a vaccination, call the Agoura Hills office at (818) 706-8133 or call the West Hills office at (818) 883-0460.


—Michael Picarella



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