2023 – 2024 Flu Vaccine, COVID Vaccine & RSV Antibody (Beyfortus)

(updated 10/03/23)

Hirsch Pediatrics now has the annual Flu and COVID vaccines available for all patients AND parents. Dr. Hirsch as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) strongly recommend that all eligible children and adults receive the annual flu and COVID vaccines.

Also new for 2023 we plan to offer the RSV preventive antibody (Beyfortus) injection to all eligible infants once it is available.  See below for information on expected availability and cost. 

  • WALK-UP FLU AND COVID VACCINE CLINIC – NO APPOINTMENT REQUIRED (SEE CLINIC SCHEDULE BELOW)
    • To ensure our families have easy and convenient access to the flu vaccine we will have multiple walk-up clinics with morning, afternoon, weekday, and weekend clinics!
    • No appointment is needed.
    • Parents, patients, and siblings may also receive the flu vaccine and COVID vaccine (if available) at their previously scheduled check-ups.  Please send us a portal message if you are unable to make any of the upcoming vaccine clinics and do not have a check-up scheduled in the near future.
    • For most patients there should be no additional charge for the flu vaccine and COVID vaccine.   
    • You can receive the flu vaccine and COVID vaccine at the same visit.

SEPTEMBER WALK-IN VACCINE CLINICS (PATIENTS AND PARENTS)

  • DONE – Saturday, September 23rd from 8 AM – 12 PM
  • DONE – Monday, September 25th from 9 AM – 4 PM (closed 12-2) – NOTE: MCPS NO SCHOOL DAY

OCTOBER WALK-IN VACCINE CLINICS (PATIENTS AND PARENTS)

  • Thursday, October 5th from 2 PM – 5 PM
  • Monday, October 9th from 2 PM – 5 PM – NOTE: MCPS NO SCHOOL DAY
  • Thursday, October 19th from 2 PM – 5 PM
  • Saturday, October 28th from 9 AM – 12 PM

NOVEMBER WALK-IN VACCINE CLINCS (PATIENTS AND PARENTS)

  • Wednesday, November 1st from 9 AM – 4 PM (closed 12-2) – NOTE: MCPS NO SCHOOL DAY
  • Thursday, November 9th from 2 PM – 5 PM
  • Thursday, November 16th from 2 PM – 5 PM

FLU VACCINE FAQ’s

    • Flu vaccine injection (quadrivalent preservative free) will be available.
    • Flumist nasal vaccine will also be available in September/October in limited quantities. Please send us a message to verify availability if you want the nasal spray vaccine.
    • Children ages 6 months through 8 years who have never received the flu vaccine before will need 2 doses separated by 1 month. Children who are at least 9 years old will only need 1 dose regardless of previous vaccination history.
    • Parents of current patients can also receive the flu vaccine at Hirsch Pediatrics as an in-network benefit (usually covered at 100% by your insurance).
    • Questions about why you should get the flu vaccine as well as typical side effects and risks? Click here for the CDC Flu Vaccine Information Statement.

COVID VACCINE FAQ’S

    • Parents can also receive the annual COVID vaccine at Hirsch Pediatrics as an in-network benefit (usually covered at 100% by your insurance).
    • If you or your child recently had COVID-19 we recommend waiting at least 90 days after the positive test to receive the COVID vaccine.
    • Hirsch Pediatrics will be offering the COVID Pfizer vaccine. Note children age 6 months – 4 years who never received a Pfizer COVID vaccine before need 3 doses their first year. (Per CDC guidelines children age 6 months – 4 years who previously received only Moderna COVID vaccines should only get a Moderna COVID annual vaccine and not the Pfizer vaccine unless there is an exceptional circumstance where the Moderna vaccine is not available or the child would otherwise not complete the vaccination series.)
      • Dosing schedule for the Pfizer COVID vaccine for children age 6 months – 4 years:
        • Dose 1 to dose 2 interval is 3-8 weeks (**longer interval at 6-8 weeks is preferred to increase effectiveness and decrease side effects**)
        • Dose 2 to dose 3 interval is 8 weeks (age 6 months – 4 years)
    • Additional COVID vaccine questions? These links have additional vaccine answers and safety information.
      The Science Behind COVID-19 Vaccines: Parent FAQs and Common Parent Questions and Answers about COVID-19 Vaccines
      COVID-19 Vaccine Information Fact Sheet for Pfizer Vaccine (age 6 months to 11 years)
      COVID-19 Vaccine Information (age 12+ years)

 

RSV ANTIBODY (Beyfortus) FAQ’s

    • What is RSV?
      RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is the most common cause hospitalization in infants, causing 58,000 – 80,000 annual hospitalizations in children younger than 5 years old. It is especially severe for young infants. RSV season in the DC area is typically the 5 months from October through February.
    • What is Beyfortus?
      Beyfortus (Nirsevimab) is an antibiody injection that can prevent serious lung disease caused by RSV. Studies have shown that in young infants the RSV preventive antibody treatment can lower serious RSV disease causing hospitalization for bronchiolitis and pneumonia by 75%. One dose of the RSV antibody (Nirsevimab) will protect infants for 5 months, the length of an average RSV season.
    • When will the RSV antibody (Beyfortus) be available at Hirsch Pediatrics?
      Hirsch Pediatrics anticipates having it available the week of October 23rd at the earliest. We will alert all eligible families once we have received our RSV antibody shipment. (Note that even though the RSV antibody has already been approved the manufacturer is not shipping to pediatric offices until the week of October 23rd at the earliest.) See below for information on the anticipated costs for the RSV antibody injection.
    • Who is eligible for the RSV antibody (Beyfortus)?
      Eligible infants can receive the RSV antibody during RSV season if on the day of the injection they are 7 months of age or younger. (Note: Infants 8 months and older have a much lower risk of severe RSV disease and are not eligible for RSV antibody.) The CDC recommends that eligible infants receive the RSV antibody ats soon as possible after birth.
    • If mom received the RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) during pregnancy does the baby still need the RSV antibody (Beyfortus)?
      No. Except in rare circumstances most infants do not need the RSV antibiody (Beyfortus) if they were born 14 or more days after their mother got RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) during pregnancy.
    • Are older high risk infants and some toddlers eligible for the RSV antibody (Beyfortus)?
      Yes certain older children who remain at risk of severe RSV disease may receive the RSV antibody. This includes children who are 8-19 months on the day of the injection during RSV season and have a high-risk criteria including:
      – chronic lung disease of prematurity who required medical support (chronic corticosteroid therapy, diuretic therapy, or supplemental oxygen) any time during the 6-month period before the start of the second RSV season.
      – severe immunocompromise
      – cystic fibrosis who have severe disease
      – American Indian and Alaska Native children
    • What is the dosage of RSV antibody (Beyfortus)?
      50mg (0.5mL) for infants weighing <5 kg/10 lbs (CPT code 90380)
      100 mg (1mL) for infants weighing ≥5 kg/11 lbs (CPT code 90381)
    • Who much does the RSV antibody (Beyfortus) cost?
      In order to offer the RSV antibody as soon as possible once it is available rather than waiting for health insurances to confirm coverage which can take weeks or months, Hirsch Pediatrics families will have the option of reserving a dose of the RSV antibody by pre-paying $495 which covers both the antibody cost (CPT 90380 or 90381) and administration cost (CPT 96372) Though we hope that health insurances will eventually fully cover the cost of the RSV antibody, it is common for many insurances to deny and delay coverage for several weeks or months after the approval of a new medication or treatment. We will still submit the insurance claim (and appeal if denied), and if your insurance reimburses Hirsch Pediatrics the cost of the RSV antibody then we will immediately refund any payments already made.