Seasonal Vaccines & Protection

Flu Shots for the Whole Family

Flu season is around the corner, and getting vaccinated is the best way to keep your family safe from serious illness. Metro Pediatrics is happy to offer quick, gentle flu shots for patients and family members ages 6 months through 64 years old!

Important Restrictions & Vaccine Availability

• Age & Insurance: We are unable to provide flu vaccines to individuals age 65 or older or anyone covered by Medicare or Kaiser HMO. If a family member falls into these categories, please reach out to their primary care provider or a local pharmacy for options.

• COVID-19 Vaccines: COVID-19 vaccines are not yet available at our offices or drive-thru events. Please check our website for updates on future availability.

Why Flu Shots Matter: Protect Your Family This Season

Every fall and winter, we strongly recommend flu shots for everyone in your family 6 months of age and older. This year, it’s more critical than ever.

A Busy Virus Season

Like last year, we expect a surge of viruses, including the flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Getting sick with multiple viruses at once can be especially dangerous. Vaccination is your best defense.

The Flu is More Than Just a “Mild” Illness

In children, the flu often means 5-6 days of high fever, cough, body aches, and headaches. This leads to missed school, missed work for parents, and a miserable child. But the flu can be much worse. It can cause serious complications like meningitis (brain and spinal cord infection) and bacterial pneumonia, even in healthy individuals.

The Reality of Flu Deaths

The flu causes 6,300 to 52,000 deaths in the U.S. annually. These tragedies happen in Oregon, and even to patients in our clinic. The heartbreaking part? Many of these deaths are preventable with vaccination.

Get Your Family Vaccinated Together

We’re offering flu shots for everyone under 65, with a few insurance exceptions (Medicare/Kaiser HMO). Getting vaccinated together can help ease anxiety for both kids and parents. Choose from our convenient drive-thru, in-clinic, or sensory-friendly appointments. Schedule your family’s flu shots by calling us or booking online.

Flu Shots: Protection & Prevention

Flu vaccines provide valuable protection in these ways:

• Preventing the flu: They reduce your chance of getting sick.
• Reducing severity: Even if you get the flu, the vaccine lessens the severity of symptoms and the risk of serious complications like pneumonia, meningitis, and death.
• Protecting the community: Vaccination helps limit the spread of the virus.

As Important as Other Childhood Vaccines

While not mandatory for school, we consider flu shots as important as any other childhood vaccine. They’re especially vital for children under 2 and those with chronic conditions like asthma, who are at higher risk for complications.

Flu Shots Don’t Cause the Flu

Flu shots cannot give you the flu. Reactions are typically mild, like soreness at the injection site or a brief, low-grade fever, similar to other vaccines.

Protect Your Family & Community

Please vaccinate your entire family against the flu. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask us or visit the AAP’s website.

Thank you for helping keep our community healthy!