Summit Medical Group can provide your seasonal influenza vaccination at our influenza clinics in Berkeley Heights.

Please click here or call 908-273-4300 for more information.

People who should receive the seasonal influenza vaccination include:

• Any person age 3 years or more who would like to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza 
• Pregnant women
• Anyone who is at risk for complications from influenza, including
  • Women who are pregnant during the flu season
  • Patients with long-term health problems such as heart, liver, lung, or kidney disease and those with asthma, diabetes, anemia or other blood disorders
  • People with a weakened immune system from HIV/AIDS, long-term steroid treatment, and cancer treatment
  • People with certain muscle or nerve disorders such as seizures or cerebral palsy that can cause swallowing problems
  • Anyone age 6 months to 18 years on long-term aspirin therapy
  • Nursing home or chronic care residents
• Anyone who lives with or cares for people at high risk for influenza-related complications, including
  • Health care providers
  • Household contacts and caregivers of
    • Infants and children up to 5 years of age
    • People age 65 years or more
    • Anyone with a medical condition that increases their risk of severe complications from influenza

Click here for updated information on the H1N1 influenza virus.

Egg Allergy, Vaccinations, and Your Child
Some people, including those with an allergy to eggs, should not have certain vaccinations. For example, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices suggests that people with a history of hypersensitivity to eggs should not receive the influenza vaccine without first consulting their physician. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Disease recommends not vaccinating anyone with known sensitivity or allergy to chicken and egg proteins.

Despite these recommendations, recent research shows that even some people with sensitivity to chicken or egg protein can be vaccinated safely when they are under the care of an allergist.

The amount of egg protein contained in an influenza vaccination varies by product, manufacturer, and production lots. For this reason, some patients who are sensitive to chicken or egg proteins can safely receive the influenza vaccination. Summit Medical Group allergists are now providing a unique service that includes skin testing and careful in-office patient monitoring so that the influenza vaccine can be safely administered to certain egg-allergic pediatric patients.

If you are unsure whether your child should be vaccinated for influenza, be sure to tell your Summit Medical Group pediatrician about all of your child’s allergies. He or she will tell you whether your child should be vaccinated or referred to our allergists for further evaluation.

For more information,
please call your Summit Medical Group pediatrician:

 Berkeley Heights 908-277-8601
Summit Medical Arts Center 908-219-3055
Short Hills 973-379-2488
Warren 908-769-0100
Westfield 908-228-3600 

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