Fall is almost here, and that mean it’s just about time for flu vaccines! We will begin giving flu vaccines for the 2025-2026 season starting this coming Monday 9/15/2025. As in previous years, your child may get the flu vaccine at a shot-only appointment, at any other appointment with our providers, or if a sibling is being seen. We are not able to guarantee appointment availability for flu shot walk-ins at this time. The flu shot is recommended for all children 6 months and older. Influenza usually hits Oregon around December which gives us a nice long period to get everyone vaccinated, but don’t wait too long!
The story behind fall COVID vaccines is more complicated. We do not have any doses yet. We should know more after next week’s ACIP meeting. In the meantime, many pharmacies are stocking one or more versions of the vaccines, at least for older children. If you have a child with a chronic health condition or one who lives with someone who is immunocompromised, we encourage you to call your pharmacy and check on availability, including asking what brand of vaccine they have. We can then send in a prescription for your child to have a vaccine given at the pharmacy.
In October, we should again be offering Beyfortus (the RSV shot) to qualifying infants. If you are coming in with an infant for a checkup this fall, ask us about this. Some infants will be receiving this in the hospital before discharge, and some moms will get the maternal version a couple of weeks before delivery, and those babies are good to go! But others may qualify.