Flu season is here! It is important that you stay healthy and protect yourself and others from getting the flu.

NEW! The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends that all children 6 months to 18 years of age receive flu vaccination.

Your child should receive two doses of flu vaccination, at least four weeks apart, if the following applies:

* He/she is between 6 months and 8 years of age and getting the flu vaccine for the first time.

* He/she is between 6 months and 8 years of age and has only received one dose previously.


Some people are at a higher risk for complications of the flu and should be vaccinated:

* All children aged 6 months up to 4 years;

* Adults aged 50 years or older;

* All women who will be pregnant or breastfeeding during influenza season;

* Persons of any age with chronic medical conditions; ask your doctor;

* Persons who live with, care for, or have frequent contact with persons at high risk;

* Health-care workers

If you are a person at higher risk of complications from the flu and have not been vaccinated, please contact your Brown & Toland Physician. You do not have to be a person in a high risk category to be vaccinated to prevent the flu.

Flu vaccine comes in shot form and in a mist form. Only healthy persons aged 2 to 49 can receive the mist form.

Influenza vaccine virus is grown in eggs. People with a severe egg allergy should not get a flu vaccination.

For more information about the flu or flu vaccinations, please visit the Centers for Disease Control Web site at www.cdc.gov/flu or the San Francisco Department of Public Health at www.sfcdcp.org/flu.cfm.

If you are unable to obtain flu vaccination from your doctor, we encourage you to obtain one from a flu clinic or local pharmacy.

There are many clinics and retail locations which offer flu vaccinations throughout the Bay Area.

Maxim Health System will help you locate flu clinics by calling 1.877.962.9358 or visit www.findaflushot.com to locate flu clinics by zip code. The cost for flu shots is $30.

Walgreens will be providing flu vaccinations to children and adults beginning in October. Children age 3 to 9 need a doctor's note or prescription. The flu shot costs $25 and FluMist costs $30. Call your nearest Walgreens pharmacy for more information or visit www.walgreens.com/flu.

Safeway will be providing flu vaccinations to children 12 years and older and adults beginning in September for $30. Please contact your nearest store for more information or visit http://shop.safeway.com/corporate/safeway/flushots.asp.

The Sutter Visiting Nurses Association will be holding flu clinics from September through December. Cost for flu vaccination is $30. To locate a clinic please call 1.800.500.2400 or visit their website at http://www.suttervna.org/services/findaflushotclinic.cfm

The San Francisco Department of Public Health will be providing flu shots, generally for adults. The cost of a flu shot varies on the clinic location. To reach their flu information line, please call 415.554.2681 or visit their website http://www.sfcdcp.org/flu.cfm.

You may also call the San Francisco Department of Health Adult Immunization and Travel Clinic at 415.554.2625 or visit http://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc.cfm.

Note: Most retail outlets will not be able to vaccinate children under age 3.

Click below to download the 2008 Flu Clinic Locations chart.

Brown & Toland will reimburse HMO members up to $25 for vaccinations received outside of their doctor's office. If your child requires two vaccinations, you will be reimbursed for both. Reimbursement only applies to flu vaccines, not pneumonia vaccines. You will need to send a copy of your receipt with the reimbursement form.

Please complete the reimbursement form and send it to:
Brown & Toland
Attn: Claims/ Adjustment Unit
P.O. Box 640469
San Francisco, CA 94164

Click below to download the Flu Vaccine Reimbursement Form.

For information about reimbursement for the flu vaccination, please contact your PPO health plan.