What Should I Do If I Get Sick
Common flu symptoms may include fever or chills, muscle aches, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache and fatigue/tiredness. If you have flu symptoms and are in a high risk group, contact your healthcare provider. If you are not in a high risk group but have symptoms, get plenty of rest and drink fluids, manage symptoms with Over-the-counter medications when appropriate.
OTC medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be used to treat fever, headache, body aches, and sore throat.
Cvs Limits Leftover Covid
CVS Health has a new policy about what to do with leftover doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. And it may mean extra doses at the end of the day wind up in the trash.

On a recent Tuesday, a line snaked through the makeup aisles of the CVS on Hope street in Providence. An employee stood near the front of the store, taking down names for a waitlist for the coronavirus vaccine.
The list was open to all ages, and people as young as 32 signed up.
Typically, the pharmacy would call just a couple people at the end of the day, to finish off an open vial. Employees said theyâd start by calling anyone 75 and older, but dozens of people below the age cut-off took their chances each day.
âI came yesterday for the first time, and I’m returning today. And I’ll return tomorrow until my turn comes,â said one 69-year-old named Greg.
He asked that we only use his first name because, at the time, only people 75 and older were eligible for the vaccine.
âI’ll wait my turn,â he added. âBut you know, if I can take a vaccine that’s available? I’ll do that.â
But the pharmacyâs policy has changed. You must now be 65 or older to get on the waitlist. And CVS is no longer giving leftover doses to people who fall outside the stateâs eligibility requirements.
âIn the rare instance that doses cannot be used before they expire, they are disposed of,â CVS Health spokesman Matthew Blanchette said in an email.
Where Can I Get A Vaccine Or Booster
The federal government’s Vaccines.gov website lets you search for vaccine and booster providers by zip code, with links to appointments, and many sites permit walk-ins. If you need help finding a COVID-19 vaccine provider, text your zip code to 438829 or call the CDC’s vaccine hotline at 800-232-0233 .
Many county health clinics, doctors’ offices and pharmacies, including large chains like CVS, Walgreens and Walmart, are taking vaccine appointments, and many also offer walk-in vaccinations. Check the pharmacy sites for appointment and walk-in options. Veterans can get vaccinated through Veterans Affairs facilities. For residents and staff at long-term care facilities, vaccines are generally available on-site.
The mass-vaccination sites that popped up across the country in the early days of vaccine distribution have mostly closed.
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Your Vaccination Can Be Added To Your Medical Record
Following your vaccination, with your permission, CVS Pharmacy or the MinuteClinic practitioner can notify your primary care physician so that the shot is added to your medical record.
For more information about vaccinations offered at CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic, as well as location-specific availability, visit cvs.com/pharmacy or minuteclinic.com/services.
Help Withvaccine Side Effects
Side effects from vaccines are often mild and are a normal signthat your body is building protection. Our CVS Pharmacy® team can provide overâtheâcounterrecommendations forhow to manage side effects. Additionally, MinuteClinic offers a vaccine side effectservice available either in person or via telehealth.
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What Are The Side Effects Of The Flu Vaccine
Common side effects of the flu vaccine include: soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, fever, headache, nausea, and muscle aches.
Less common side effects may include: fainting, Guillain-Barre syndrome , and allergic reactions.
Egg Allergy: Eggs are used in the production of some flu vaccines. Those who experience only hives after eating eggs or egg-containing products may still receive any flu vaccine formulation appropriate for their age and health status. Those with a more severe egg allergy should only receive a flu shot in a medical facility that is prepared to handle a severe allergic reaction .
What Vaccines Can A Pharmacist Give
Along with the COVID-19 shot and the flu shot, most pharmacists can administer vaccines to protect against:
In addition to vaccinations, other kinds of injections may be available. Some pharmacies, for example, offer the birth control shot and vitamin B12 injections to patients over 18 with a prescription from a doctor.
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Why Get A Flu Shot
Getting vaccinated helps to protect you and the people around you. Influenza sends a countless number of patients into hospitals each year dont be one of them. There are two types of flu shots a seasonal vaccine for adults and children and a high dose vaccine . While you can take preventative measures, getting immunized with the influenza vaccine is your best defense against the flu. Each year, new strains of the flu develop. While you may have gotten a flu shot in the past, you may not be protected from the new strands. Although flu vaccines may not be 100% effective, it is still the best defense against the virus. Dont fall victim to the flu this year stop by MinuteClinic and get your flu shot today!
How Do I Add My Minor Child To My Account And View Theirvaccination Records
- Sign in to CVS.com® or create anaccount if you do not have one.
- Go to Pharmacy > Pharmacy Settings > Manage Family Members > Add a person.
- To add your minor, we first need to locate their pharmacyrecords by using their patient information or a prescription number.
Quick tip: The prescription number can be found on any prescription bottle, as well as on the vaccinationconfirmation email referenced in the previous question with the subject line âFor yourrecords.â
- Once the pharmacy records are found, you will be asked toconfirm that you are the parent or legal guardian.
- Once you confirm: Success! Your minor childâs Rx recordsare now available for viewing at CVS.com®
*for $5target coupon: Terms and conditions are applied to coupon. See coupon for details. Couponvalid for Target merchandise only. Offer available only at CVS Pharmacy®, LongsDrugs® and MinuteClinic® locations inTarget stores September 5, 2021 through December 31, 2021, while supplies last. Limit one percustomer per vaccine visit.For vaccines which require 2 doses, coupon will be given with vaccine series completion. Couponcannot be issued atpharmacy locations in AR, NJ and NY or at MinuteClinic locations in MA, NJ, NY, PA and RI.
*for shingles and more: Availability varies by state based onregulations. This is not an allâinclusive list of who should be vaccinated. Age restrictionsapply.Talk to your CVS Pharmacy® immunizing pharmacist to see if any ofthese vaccines are right for you.
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Can Kids Get Vaccinated At A Pharmacy
Yes, kids can now get many of their shots at pharmacies and drug stores in all 50 states.
Thanks to a 2020 ruling by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , all pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians in the United States can administer the flu, as well as many other vaccines, to anyone age 3 and up.
Minimum ages for vaccines, however, are regulated by state law, so the cutoff for certain vaccines may be higher than age 3 at pharmacies in your area.
Pharmacies can also give the COVID-19 shot to children, but currently only those age 12 and up are eligible.
What Is The Inactivated Influenza Vaccine
The inactivated influenza vaccine is made of killed influenza viruses. It protects against viruses that cause influenza, often called the flu. The vaccine does not protect against other viruses or bacteria that cause colds or stomach flu. Several different influenza vaccines are available in B.C., including a live attenuated influenza vaccine made from weakened influenza viruses. For more information, see HealthLinkBC File #12e Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine. All of the vaccines are approved by Health Canada.
In B.C., influenza vaccines are usually available in October. For your best protection, get immunized as soon as possible. Speak with your health care provider to find out when the vaccines are available or visit ImmunizeBC to locate a flu clinic.
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Fighting With The Pediatricians Office
All Kristin Nabers wanted to do was get her children a flu shot and she had to argue with her pediatricians office.
Her pediatricians office is a 30-minute drive away, and then theres time in the waiting room. That means Nabers or her husband would have to miss half a day of work, and her children, ages 4 and 6, would have to miss school.
The pharmacy, on the other hand, is a mile away from her house, and its open evenings and weekends.
Nabers chose the pharmacy. She lives in Georgia, where children under age 13 need a prescription to get a flu shot at a pharmacy.
She contacted her pediatricians office. The nurse refused.
The nurse told me for reasons of continuity of care they couldnt call in a prescription, Nabers remembers. I was like, really for a flu shot?
Nabers asked the nurse to reconsider.
This time, she received a different answer. She was told that if children get their flu shots in pharmacies, the pediatricians office wouldnt know how many to order for the following year.
Nabers understood the bureaucratic predicament, but it still didnt seem like a good enough reason for her or her husband to miss work, or for her children to miss school. She even considered finding a new pediatrician.
I didnt threaten to leave, but I told them while I loved their practice, I was very unhappy with this and would have to consider it moving forward, she said.
How Do I View My Minor Childs Vaccinationrecords
Check your email for the COVID-19 vaccination recordif both the following conditions apply:
- The minor was vaccinated at CVS Pharmacy®
- An email address was provided at scheduling/check-in
A record of the vaccination should have been immediately sent tothat address. It would have been sent from with a subject line of âFor Your Records.â
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Are Quadrivalent Flu Vaccines Safe
Yes. Flu vaccines that protect against four flu viruses have a safety profile similar to seasonal flu vaccines made to protect against three viruses, with similarmostly mildside effects. Like all seasonal flu vaccines, vaccines that protect against four flu viruses are monitored annually for their safety and effectiveness.
Quadrivalent vaccine cannot cause flu illness because they contain inactivated virus, attenuated virus, or are made using recombinant methods that dont use flu virus in the manufacturing process.
For information about flu vaccine side effects, see Can the flu vaccine give me the flu?
Can I Still Get The Flu If I’ve Been Vaccinated
Yes. Those who have been vaccinated may still get the flu. This can be caused by one or more of the following:
- Exposure to the virus before vaccination
- Exposure to the virus during the two-week period after receiving vaccination, before immunity develops.
- The possible strains of the flu that may be circulating are not included in the flu vaccine.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration reviews the flu data and determines the combination of viruses most likely to prevent the flu each year. Despite the amount of research that goes into the flu vaccine composition, the virus is constantly changing.
Therefore, the vaccine may not be a perfect match to the current circulating virus. The good news is, those who have been vaccinated generally have a milder case of flu than those who are unvaccinated.
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Five Things To Know: Getting Vaccinated At Cvs Pharmacy
Across the country, in nearly 10,000 communities nationwide, our customers turn to their local CVS Pharmacy to help lead them on a path to better health, not only through our prescription services, but our innovative assortment of health-focused products and services as well.
One of those services is vaccinations. Administered in all of our retail locations nationwide by a certified immunizer and by a nurse practitioner at our MinuteClinic locations, our vaccination offerings go well beyond the annual influenza shot. And since no appointment for vaccinations is required, CVS Pharmacy is a convenient and reliable place for customers to get CDC-recommended vaccines when and where they need them.
Here are some things to know before heading to a local CVS Pharmacy for a vaccination.
Are You An Active Duty Or Guard/reserve Member
Youre required to get the flu vaccine.
- You have priority to get the vaccine at military hospitals and military clinics.
- You can also get vaccines at participating retail network pharmacies.
If you go to a participating network pharmacy, you won’t have any cost-shares or copayments if the flu vaccine is administered by a pharmacist. You can also go to a TRICARE-authorized provider at a participating network onsite clinic.
If you go to a network doctor other than your primary care manager , you must get a referral from your PCM. In addition, you may have to pay copayments or cost-shares for the office visit.
When you get a flu vaccine from a participating network pharmacy, follow your Service policy guidance for recording the vaccine in your shot record. You’ll need the following information:
- The date the vaccine was given
- The vaccine name or code
- Manufacturer
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How Much Does It Cost To Get Vaccinated At A Pharmacy
Pharmacies that offer immunizations will file with your insurance plan. Some private insurers cover 100 percent of vaccination costs others require you to pay a deductible or copay.
Medicare fully covers the flu, pneumonia, and hepatitis B vaccines under Part B. If you have Medicare Part D , vaccinations are treated like prescription drugs with copays and deductibles.
The COVID-19 vaccines are free to everyone living in the United States, regardless of whether you have insurance or are U.S. citizen, says the CDC.
Not all pharmacies charge the same amount for vaccinations, so if youll be paying out-of-pocket, its a good idea to shop around.
And dont rule out warehouse clubs just because you are not a member. Costcos pharmacies are open to nonmembers where required by state law, and membership is not required to get vaccinations at Sams Club.
Moving In The Right Direction
Jennifer Miller remembers the fall of 2012 as a particularly busy time for her family, who live in Westfield, New Jersey.
Five-year-old Caroline had just started kindergarten, and she was selling hot cocoa at community events to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Her sister Katie was in third grade and on the swim team.
Miller meant to call the pediatricians office and make an appointment for her daughters to get flu shots, but each day got busier and busier. Going to their local pharmacy wasnt a choice because at the time, New Jersey didnt permit children of any age to be vaccinated in pharmacies.
September became October, and October became December. I remember us getting closer to the girls holiday vacation, and I thought, Ill go ahead and get them vaccinated then, Miller remembers.
She never got that chance. Ten days before Christmas, Caroline, their 5-year-old, woke up with the sniffles and a cough. By that evening, her breathing had become labored. Her parents brought Caroline to a local hospital where she was put on a ventilator and airlifted to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia.
I never expected that the child who a day ago was doing somersaults in the front hallway was now going to be intubated, Miller said. She literally had no lung function at all.
Miller still feels guilty that she didnt get her daughter a flu shot. But she says New Jersey could have made it a whole lot easier.
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Talk To Your Pharmacist Or Nurse Practitioner Prior To Your Vaccination
Before administering your vaccination, the immunizing pharmacist or nurse practitioner will want to know about any medical conditions you might have, any previous reactions to vaccines, and your medication history if you fill your prescriptions at another pharmacy. They will also be able to advise on any side effects that may result from your vaccination.
Can I Get More Than One Vaccine During The Same Visit
If you need more than one vaccine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether you should get them all in one visit, or space them out.
Its very common to bundle immunizations for children, and there are many cases where adults may get two vaccines at the same time.
Shingrix, which is recommended to prevent shingles in adults 50 and older, can be given during the same appointment as a flu shot, according to the CDC.
The agency has also given the green light for people to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, including a booster shot , and the flu shot during the same visit.
In fact, the CDC says that the COVID-19 vaccine can be given without regard to the timing of any other vaccine.
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Why Was Quadrivalent Flu Vaccine Developed
For many years, flu vaccines were designed to protect against three different flu viruses: an influenza A virus, an influenza A virus and one influenza B virus, even though there are two different lineages of B viruses that circulate during most seasons. Adding a B virus from the second lineage was done to give broader protection against circulating flu viruses.