Immunizations

The flu vaccine is available during flu season to patients 6 months and older. Allegro patients can receive their annual flu shot at any scheduled Well Care or follow-up appointment, or by scheduling an immunization only appointment. 

Depending on their age, some children may need 2 doses of the flu vaccine for best protection.

• Children 9 years and older: 1 dose
  
• Children 6 months through 8 years: Some may need 2 doses for best protection
  • Children 6 months through 8 years receiving a flu vaccine for the first time, and those who have only previously received one dose of flu vaccine, should receive two doses. The second dose should be given at least 4 weeks after their first dose. Flu vaccine is available in clinic at scheduled Well Child Check-ups and follow-up visits.
  • For children who require 2 doses, both doses should be administered even if the child turns age 9 years between dose 1 and dose 2.
  • If your child previously received two doses of flu vaccine (at any time), they only need one dose of flu vaccine this season.

All children 6 months and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer or Moderna COVID vaccine. Allegro Pediatrics supports your family’s decision to receive either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID vaccine. We do have limitations on what we can offer in clinic to our patients. 

At this time, we only offer the Moderna vaccine to patients 6 months - 18 years old. All doses of the Moderna COVID vaccine are available at scheduled Well Child Check-ups and follow-up appointments, or by scheduling an immunization only appointment. 

Please visit Vaccinate WA to find vaccine locations in the community if you would prefer a different brand or if you are unable to schedule a COVID vaccine at Allegro for your child.

The doctors in our practice know that vaccines, or immunizations, save lives. Immunizations prevent complications, disability, hospitalization, and death from disease. The most common side effects after receiving vaccinations include low-grade fever and soreness at the site of the injection. At Allegro Pediatrics we use combination vaccines whenever possible to deliver vaccines safely, with fewer overall injections.

Scientific research consistently supports vaccine safety and effectiveness. This research has repeatedly shown that there is no established link between vaccines and children's chronic health issues. Due to the success of immunizations, there are significantly fewer cases of deadly disease than ever before. However, there are still tragic stories of children suffering severe effects or dying from vaccine-preventable infections.

Our doctors are committed to discussing vaccinations and preserving relationships with families who decline or alter the recommended vaccine schedule. However, we do ask that these families sign a Refusal To Vaccinate Form to acknowledge acceptance of responsibility and potential consequences of vaccine refusal.

Below are some Allegro-approved immunization resources that we suggest to parents for review. You can also speak with your doctor at any time, if you have questions about immunizations.

Websites:

• HPV Vaccine Patient Education - Information about the HPV vaccine from Allegro Pediatrics and the Washington State Department of Health
• www.CISPImmunize.org - AAP’s Childhood Immunization Support Program (CISP) with information for parents and providers
• Plain Talk about Childhood Immunizations - A comprehensive, readable resource published by Washington State Department of Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Immunization Program - Information about vaccine safety, including a Parents’ Guide to Childhood Immunizations
• Immunizations for Public Health (I4PH) - The latest scientific information on immunizations for the public, healthcare providers, policy makers, and the media
• Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia - A member of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Vaccine Safety Net
• Institute for Vaccine Safety, Johns Hopkins - Information to help guide decision-makers and educate physicians, the public, and the media about key issues surrounding the safety of vaccines
• VaccinateYourBaby.org - Vaccinate Your Baby is a program of Every Child by Two, and serves as a central resource of vaccine information for parents.

Books:

• Vaccines: What Every Parent Should Know by Drs. Paul Offit and Louis Bell
• Vaccinating Your Child: Questions and Answers for the Concerned Parent by Dr. Sharon Humiston and Cynthia Good
• Immunizations and Infectious Diseases: An Informed Parent’s Guide by Dr. Margaret Fisher
• Do Vaccines Cause That? A Guide for Evaluating Vaccine Safety Concerns by Dr. Martin Myers and Diego Pineda
• The Panic Virus: A True Story of Medicine, Science, and Fear by Seth Mnookin