Esse Health Watson Clinic Offers Flu Vaccinations, Extends Hours

Several offices are offering patients multiple flu clinics this fall. The clinics will provide both adult and child patients with the opportunity to receive the 2011-2012 flu vaccination. Offices that are currently offering the vaccine include Creve Coeur Pediatrics, Watson Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Southroads Internal Medicine, South County Internal Medicine, Florissant Pediatrics, Richmond Heights Internal Medicine and O’Fallon Pediatrics.

In addition, the Esse Health Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine location on Watson Road has extended office hours for busy children and parents. Appointments are available Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  To find out specific dates and office locations for when the flu vaccination is available, visit http://essehealth.com/fluclinic.php. Patients are asked to call and schedule an appointment.

“We know that families are busy, but we also believe health care is important, so we decided to accommodate busy families by extending our office hours,” said Dr. Karen Norton, pediatrician, Esse Health Watson Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, in a statement.

The flu can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, headache and fatigue. On average, approximately 36,000 people die each year from influenza or complications caused by influenza. The best way to prevent the flu is to receive a vaccination each year. The 2011-2012 flu vaccine includes H1N1 as one of the three strains it protects against. For more information about influenza and this year’s vaccine, please visit www.flu.gov.   

The Watson Road office also is accepting new patients. Appointments can be made by calling 314-965-5437.