Protect yourself and your family. Follow our recommendations for preventing the flu this winter.

Questions? Call our flu information line at 415.972.6006.

Production of the H1N1 vaccine has been delayed. Priority is being given to pregnant women, children age 6 months through 4 years, caregivers of infants younger than six months of age, and health care and emergency medical workers with direct patient contact.

Please keep in mind the following:

* Doctors must be registered with the state to give H1N1 vaccines. Find out if your doctor is registered.

* Initial shipments in San Francisco were limited to pediatricians, family practice physicians, OB/GYNs, and hospitals.

* It is anticipated that internal medicine doctors and other providers will get the vaccine after the second week of December.

* Unfortunately, there is no way to predict vaccine delivery dates. Doctors receive 1 to 2 days notice.

* You can request that your doctor's office notify you when the vaccine arrives.

If your doctor will not be providing H1N1 vaccine, please call the San Francisco Department of Public Health at (415) 701-2311 or visit their H1N1 page. If you are outside of San Francisco, contact your local health department.

H1N1 Vaccine Information Statements are now available.

For H1N1 flu shot information from the CDC, click here.

For H1N1 nasal spray information from the CDC, click here.

Brown & Toland will reimburse patients for H1N1 vaccination. Please fill out and return the H1N1 reimbursement form.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends that all children 6 months to 18 years of age receive a seasonal flu vaccination.

Your child should receive two doses of flu vaccination, at least four weeks apart, if the following applies:

* He/she is between 6 months and 8 years of age and getting the flu vaccine for the first time.

* He/she is between 6 months and 8 years of age and has only received one dose previously.


Those at higher risk of complications from the flu should be vaccinated:

* All children age 6 months up to 4 years;

* Adults age 50 or older;

* All women who will be pregnant or breastfeeding during influenza season;

* Persons of any age with chronic medical conditions; ask your doctor;

* Persons who live with, care for, or have frequent contact with persons at high risk;

* Health-care workers

If you are a person at higher risk of complications from the flu and have not been vaccinated, please contact your Brown & Toland physician.

However, you do not need to be in a high risk category to receive the vaccine.

Flu vaccine comes in shot form and in a mist form. Only healthy persons aged 2 to 49 can receive the mist form.

Influenza vaccine virus is grown in eggs. People with a severe egg allergy should not get a flu vaccination.

Brown & Toland will reimburse HMO members up to $25 for vaccinations received outside of their doctor's office. If your child requires two vaccinations, you will be reimbursed for both. (Reimbursement only applies to flu vaccines, not pneumonia vaccines.)

A copy of your vaccination receipt is required.

Please send your receipt and completed form to:

Brown & Toland
Attn: Claims/ Adjustment Unit
P.O. Box 640469
San Francisco, CA 94164

Click below to download the Flu Vaccine Reimbursement Form:

For information about reimbursement for the flu vaccination, please contact your PPO health plan.