Groups Who Should Especially Get The Vaccine
The flu shot can protect you against the flu. Because of this, it can reduce your chances of being infected with COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. This can lead to serious complications. You should especially receive the flu vaccine this season if youre:
- at high risk of severe COVID-19 related illness
- capable of spreading the flu to those at high risk of severe illness related to COVID-19
The flu vaccine is especially important for the following groups.
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The out-of-pocket costs are $49.99 for the standard vaccine and $94.99 for the dairy-free vaccine. That is the same price for the high dose for adults 65 and older. The shot may be free, depending on medical insurance. Give your healthcare provider a call and ask about that before you head to the pharmacy.
When Does Kaiser Permanente Medicare Cover Flu Shots
Kaiser typically covers flu shots for all eligible plan members throughout each flu season. Older adults age 65 and over may also be eligible for high-dose flu vaccines at no additional cost.
During flu season, members can receive flu vaccinations at their physician’s offices or designated Kaiser locations.
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Everyone 6 Months And Older Should Get The Flu Shot
The flu shot is your best defence against the flu. The flu shot is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older.
It can save lives by:
- protecting you, if you’re exposed to the virus
- preventing you from getting very sick
- protecting people close to you:
- because you’re less likely to spread the virus
- who are at higher risk of serious flu complications if they get the flu
The flu shot wont protect you against COVID-19.
Free Shots Without Insurance
According to GoodRx, many county health departments offer free flu shots during flu seasonwith or without insurance. Contact your county’s health department to see if you can benefit from this service. Even if you don’t have health insurance , you may be able to get the jab without cost through local churches and synagogues, free clinics, and community centers.
“Last flu season, the CDC reported record numbers of people vaccinated against the flu, and we experienced a near non-existent flu season,” Kevin Ban, MD, chief medical officer at Walgreens, told Health. “This shows that the flu shots, combined with other preventive measures, remain the best way to fight off flu.”
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Kaiser Permanente Rolls Out Drive
With COVID-19 in the background, physicians are urging everyone to get a flu shot this year. Pictured, Brae Pate, a licensed vocational nurse, prepares a flu shot in the drive-through area for a member at Kaiser Richmond Medical Center during the first week of the flu vaccination program.
Kaiser Permanente is offering convenient drive-through and outdoor walk-up flu shots at its medical centers across Northern California to maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members can see flu shot clinic locations and operating hours on the Kaiser Permanente website.
At the drive-through clinics, members will simply put their arm out the car window, get the shot, and be off. Members visiting walk-up clinics will be spaced 6 feet apart to minimize contact with others.
In addition to the website, members can call the Kaiser Permanente Northern California flu hotline to get more information at 1-800-573-5811.
We are doing everything we possibly can and are committed to providing a very safe environment to get a vaccine, said Randy Bergen, MD, clinical lead for the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Flu Vaccine Program.
The flu, with its fever, headache, and cough, can be deadly for the very young and the very old, and a sickly ordeal at the very least for those in between. In the 2019-2020 flu season, the CDC estimated that up to 56 million people in the U.S. got the flu, as many as 740,000 were hospitalized, and up to 62,000 died.
Where To Get Vaccinated
We recommend that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu vaccine. Vaccination protects your health, and the health of your family and our community.
- Contact your primary care doctor or medical home to arrange to receive your flu vaccine.
- Kaiser’s 24-hour flu hotline: 800-KP FLU-11 or 711
- For San Rafael, Petaluma, and Novato Kaiser locations:
- English: 444-4154
- Spanish: 444-4200
- You can also receive your vaccine at pharmacies, retailers, and grocery stores. For example, check with your local CVS, Walgreens, Target, Rite Aid, and Safeway stores.
- Find one using the Vaccine Finder.
- View a list of Marin vaccination locations here:
- View the calendar of free community flu clinics hosted by Marin Health and Human Services.
For community partners who may be hosting flu vaccine clinics, to add your clinic to the calendar please contact .
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Kaiser Permanente Offering Drive
LAKEWOOD, Colo. Drive-up medical services are growing in popularity because of the pandemic. Kaiser Permanente is now offering flu shots to patients who drive up and dont have to get out of their cars.
I had to have some blood work done, they said the flu shot was available, so Im having it done. I dont need the flu on top of everything else, said Betty Flory, who received a shot Friday.
The hospital chain is offering the drive-up clinics at several of its locations around the Denver metro area.
This year is really important to get the flu shot because the presentation of COVID and flu are very similar. No one wants to get the flu. Its a horrible illness to begin with, as is COVID. In order to reduce the likelihood of getting either one of those things, we want to make sure that we vaccinate as many people as possible. All of the prevention measures we are doing for COVID will be effective for the flu too. So we want to keep up those things, but it will really be a demand on our public health system if we have a lot of people presenting with flu-like symptoms, which are the same as COVID symptoms. That will lead to a lot of testing and a lot of treatment and potentially hospitalizations, said Amy Duckro, an infectious diseases physician for Kaiser Permanente.
Nobody really knows how bad the flu season will be, but patients like George Sherman arent taking any chances.
In addition to offering the flu vaccine, Kaiser is offering other services at the same time.
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Now Offering Saturday Flu Shot Clinics
FILE
HONOLULU Kaiser Permanente Hawaii is now offering free flu shots for its members, and its Saturday morning walk-in flu shot clinics are also available at several of their larger facilities statewide.
On Oahu, members can receive a flu shot on Saturdays located at the Honolulu, Koolau and Waipio medical facilities from 8 a.m. to noon, according to the Kaiser Permanente website. Additionally, Saturday flu shot clinics are available at the Hilo facility on the Big Island.
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According to officials, it is safe to receive the COVID vaccine and flu shot at the same time. Walk-ins are accepted, and participants must bring their Kaiser Permanente member ID card and a photo ID.
All flu shot clinics will be closed between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. for lunch on weekdays and holidays.For more information regarding flu shot clinic locations and hours, clickhere.
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Covid + Influenza: This Is A Good Year To Get A Flu Shot Experts Advise
Flu season will look different this year, as the country grapples with a coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 172,000 people. Many Americans are reluctant to visit a doctors office and public health officials worry people will shy away from being immunized.
Although sometimes incorrectly regarded as just another bad cold, flu also kills tens of thousands of people in the U.S. each year, with the very young, the elderly and those with underlying conditions the most vulnerable. When coupled with the effects of COVID-19, public health experts say its more important than ever to get a flu shot.
If enough of the U.S. population gets vaccinated more than the 45% who did last flu season it could help head off a nightmare scenario in the coming winter of hospitals stuffed with both COVID-19 patients and those suffering from severe effects of influenza.
Aside from the potential burden on hospitals, theres the possibility people could get both viruses and no one knows what happens if you get influenza and COVID because its never happened before, Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvanias secretary of health, told reporters this month.
In response, manufacturers are producing more vaccine supply this year, between 194 million and 198 million doses, or about 20 million more than they distributed last season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As flu season approaches, here are some answers to a few common questions:
Flu Shots Now Available In All Publix Pharmacies
- Business Wire
LAKELAND, Fla.—-Aug 2, 2022–
Flu shots are now available at all Publix pharmacies. Trained Publix Pharmacy associates will administer the vaccine to patients.
Each year, Publix Pharmacy offers the flu vaccine to our patients to help protect themselves throughout the flu season, said Publix Vice President of Pharmacy Dain Rusk. With the health of our communities as a top priority, we are proud to offer immunizations as part of our pharmacy services.
Publix Pharmacy will offer both Fluad, recommended for patients age 65 and older, and Flucelvax, for patients age 64 and younger. Both vaccinations protect against influenza A and B.
Flu immunizations are available at no charge through most insurance plans. Publix accepts Medicare Part B and many other third-party insurance plans as payment for flu shots, as specified by provider health plans. Restrictions apply for minors and state laws vary. Publix pharmacists are available to answer any questions.
While appointments are not required, they are recommended for shorter wait times. Customers can reserve an appointment time online at publix.com/vaccines.
Additional vaccinations available at Publix pharmacies include
- COVID-19
- tetanus.
To see a complete list, please visit publix.com/vaccines.
View source version on businesswire.com:
CONTACT: Maria Brous
680-5339
KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA FLORIDA
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Where To Get A Flu Shot
During flu season you can get a free flu shot from:
- your doctor or nurse practitioner
- participating pharmacies
Children six moths to four years old can get their flu shot from a doctor, nurse practitioner or local public health unit. Children under five years old cannot get a flu shot at a pharmacy.
Is It Safe To Get A Flu Shot At The Same Time As A Covid
It is generally considered safe to receive influenza and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time, including COVID-19 booster shots. However, because both vaccines can cause mild side effects, such as tiredness, headaches and low-grade fevers, it may be a good idea to schedule the shots a few days apart to minimize discomfort.
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Are Flu Vaccines Safe
Yes. Flu vaccines have been used for over 50 years and have been safely given to hundreds of millions of people, including pregnant people. Flu vaccines, like all vaccines used in the U.S., are carefully monitored for safety through the U.S. vaccine monitoring systems .
Find answers to more questions about vaccine safety.
Considerations For Getting A Covid
Its safe for your health care provider to administer a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines. If youre 12 years of age or older, you may get the flu shot at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine. You may also get it any time before or after you receive the flu shot.
For children aged 5 to 11, the National Advisory Council on Immunization recommends a 14-day interval between a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines. This is to help better monitor for possible side effects from COVID-19 vaccines. Provinces and territories will decide on an interval for this age group as part of their vaccination programs.
Talk to a health care provider or consult your provincial or territorial public health authority for the latest guidance.
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Can A Flu Vaccine Give Me The Flu
No. The way that flu vaccines are made, they cannot cause the flu. Flu shots are made from either flu viruses that have been inactivated OR with proteins from a flu virus. .
Nasal spray flu vaccine is made with weakened live flu viruses, and also cannot cause the flu. The weakened viruses are cold-adapted, which means they can only cause flu infection at the cooler temperatures found in your nose. These viruses cannot infect your lungs or other warmer areas of your body.
While some people may get mild side effects from a flu shot like a sore arm, a headache, muscle aches or a low fever, those side effects usually begin soon after the shot and only last 1 -2 days. These are actually signs that the vaccine is working and your body is building immunity.
Supermarkets And Big Box Stores
Most of the country’s large grocery store chains, including Stop & Shop, Kroger, and Safeway, have pharmacies on the premises that offer free flu shots with most health insurance plans. Even stores without pharmacies may sponsor pop-up flu shot clinics on site. You can also grab a flu shot when you’re making your weekly bulk-grocery run to Sam’s Club or Costco.
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The Flu Shot Is Effective
The effectiveness of the vaccine varies from season to season. It depends on:
- how well the vaccine matches with the circulating flu viruses
- the health and age of the person getting the flu shot
The viruses circulating in the population can sometimes change during the time it takes to produce a vaccine. When this happens during the flu season, the flu shot may not work as well as expected.
It’s also important to remember that the flu shot protects against several different flu viruses each season. The seasonal flu shot can still provide protection against the remaining 2 or 3 viruses, even when theres:
- a less-than-ideal match
- lower effectiveness against one virus
If you do get the flu, the flu shot may reduce the severity of flu-related complications.
Getting your flu shot is still the most effective way to protect yourself against the flu and flu-related complications.
People At High Risk Of Complications From The Flu
- people with health conditions, such as:
- cancer and other immune compromising conditions
- diabetes
- kidney disease
- neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions
- children up to 18 years of age undergoing treatment for long periods with acetylsalicylic acid
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Why Do Some People Not Feel Well Or Feel Like They Have Flu Symptoms After Getting A Flu Vaccine
While a flu vaccine cannot give you the flu, there may be times when you dont feel well after getting your flu vaccine. Heres why:
- You may get some mild and temporary side effects after your flu vaccine, such as soreness or redness where you got your shot, muscle aches, headache or a low fever. These common side effects usually begin soon after you get the vaccine and last 1-2 days. These reactions are a sign that your immune system is working and that your body is building protection against flu.
- You could become sick from other respiratory viruses that are spreading during flu season. A flu vaccine only protects you from the flu, not other illnesses like COVID-19 or the common cold.
- You could encounter flu viruses, which cause the flu, shortly before getting your flu vaccine or during the 2 weeks after getting the vaccine when your body is still building immunity. As a result, you could get the flu before the vaccine has the chance to protect you.
- You could experience flu-like symptoms, even after getting vaccinated, because you were exposed to a flu virus that is very different from the viruses that the vaccine is designed to protect against. There are many different flu viruses that spread and cause illness among people. However, even when the circulating flu viruses are not a perfect match to the strains in the flu vaccine, getting a flu vaccine should still help protect you against serious flu illness and its complications.
Goal Of More Than 25 Million Vaccinations
Last year Kaiser Permanente vaccinated about 1.8 million members in Northern California, and Dr. Bergen said he hopes the numbers will rise to more than 2.5 million this year.
In addition to the drive-through and walk-up vaccination clinics, members who are visiting their doctors in person will be offered the shot, Dr. Bergen said.
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