IMPORTANT recall information and the AAP recommendations for the 2015-2016 flu season.

Happy Halloween!



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RECALL: 
Auvi-Q epinephrine injectors recalled by Sanofi U.S.
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by Melissa Jenco · News Content Editor
 
Sanofi U.S. is voluntarily recalling all Auvi-Q epinephrine auto-injectors due to suspected malfunctions that could deliver the wrong dose of medication.
 
The injectors are used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, and a patient receiving an incorrect dose could face serious health consequences including death, according to an alert from the Food and Drug Administration.
 
Sanofi has received 26 unconfirmed reports of possible malfunctions as of Oct. 26. No deaths have been reported.
 
Although doctors may not be able to contact all of their patients directly, they should use social media and local media outlets to spread the word about the recall, said Bridgette L. Jones, M.D., M.Sc., FAAAAI, FAAP, an allergy, asthma and immunology specialist with Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics and a member of the AAP Committee on Drugs.
 
Patients who use Auvi-Q should ask their doctor for an alternate epinephrine auto-injector. They only should use Auvi-Q in the case of a life-threatening allergic reaction in which no other injector is immediately available and then call 911, the alert said.
 
Anyone experiencing adverse reactions after using Auvi-Q should contact their doctor and submit a report to the FDA at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report or call 800-332-1088.
 
For instructions on returning their devices, Auvi-Q customers can contact the company at www.Auvi-Q.com, by email at cs@sanofi.com or by phone at 866-726-6340. Sanofi will reimburse customers for the out-of-pocket costs of purchasing a new auto-injector.

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Flu season is approaching! 

The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated the recommendations for the prevention of influenza for the 2015-2016 flu season.

What:

*Influenza, also called the "flu", is a respiratory virus that is spread by person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes.  A person becomes infected with the virus when it is inhaled.  Your child can also become infected by touching a hard surface (desk) and then rubbing their eyes or placing their fingers in their nose or mouth.

Symptoms:

*Sudden fever (100.4 or higher)
*Body aches and chills.
*Headaches.
*More tired than usual.
*Sore throat.
*Dry, hacking cough.
*Stuffy, runny nose.

Symptoms can last 1 week or more.

Who:

*All children and adolescents 6 months of age and older.
*Children with conditions that increase the risk of complications from influenza (asthma, diabetes mellitus, cardiac disease, immunosuppression, or neurologic and neurodevelopmental disorders).
*All  household contacts and out-of-home care providers of children with high-risk conditions and children younger than 5 years of age--especially infants younger than 6 months. 
*Pregnant women are also recommended to receive the flu vaccine because they are considered high risk for developing complications caused by the influenza virus.  This also protects their infants during the first six months due to antibodies that are transferred through the placenta.

When:

As soon as flu vaccine is available! 
*The influenza virus is unpredictable which means the flu season may start in early fall/winter and extend into late spring. There is no evidence that receiving the vaccine early in the influenza season increases the risk of infection.

Dosing information:

*Children 6 months through 8 years receiving the influenza vaccine for the first time should receive a second dose of the vaccine at least 4 weeks after the first dose.
*Children 6 months through 8 years need only one dose of the vaccine if they have received two doses of seasonal influenza vaccine prior to July 1, 2015.
*Children under 9 years of age who have only had one flu vaccine need to get an additional dose.
*Children and adolescents 9 years of age and older need only one dose of the influenza vaccine.

For more information detailing influenza 2015-2016 recommendations; see AAP references below.

http://aapnews.aappublications.org/content/early/2015/09/07/aapnews.20150907-1.full?rss=1

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/The-Flu.aspx

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