Where Can I Get A Flu Shot
There are more places than ever to get your flu vaccination. Doctors offices, clinics and health departments offer the flu shot, but you may need to make an appointment in advance. Pharmacies have become an easy and convenient option to get your flu shot. At Walgreens, we offer flu shots to everyone 3 and older. You can make an appointment online, through our app or by calling 1-800-WALGREENS .
Which Option Is Best For You
If youre getting the flu vaccine, you may wonder whether one option is better than others. Your doctor can point you to the one that should work best for you.
In certain years, the nasal spray hasnt been recommended due to effectiveness concerns. But both the shot and the nasal spray are recommended for the 2020 to 2021 flu season.
For the most part, the flu vaccine is safe. But you should check with your doctor before getting it if you have one the following:
- a previous bad reaction to the vaccine or its ingredients
Its not unusual to experience mild flu-like symptoms after a vaccination. These symptoms tend to disappear after one to two days. Other common side effects of the vaccine include soreness and redness at the injection site.
Where Can You Get Free Flu Shots
Free flu shots are easier to find than you might think. If youre a college student, most colleges offer free flu shots on-campus, while many employers offer free flu shots to their staff, says Dr. Sonpal.
Free flu shots are also available at your local pharmacies and some grocery stores. CVS and MinuteClinic locations in Target, for example, offer free flu shots every day at no cost through most health insurance policies and with no appointment necessary, according to a CVS representative.
Walgreens offers free flu shots through most health insurance policies, as well. You can get vaccinated during pharmacy and clinic hours every day without an appointment. The pharmacy is also currently running its Get A Shot. Give A Shot campaign: For every shot administered at a Walgreens pharmacy or health-care clinic between now and January 31, 2020, Walgreens will donate a vaccine to a child in need, up to an aggregate donation value of $2.6 million, says Rina Shah, pharmacy operations group vice president of Walgreens.
Wholesale clubs like Sams Club and Costco offer free flu vaccinations, tooand you dont even have to be a member to get one, adds Dr. Sonpal. Military veterans enrolled in healthcare through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can also receive a free vaccination at Veterans Affairs health-care facilities.
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Flu Shots Are Now Available At Walmarts 4700+ Pharmacies With New Features And Safety Precautions For Covid
BENTONVILLE, Ark., Sept. 8, 2020 Walmart is helping customers and associates live better, healthier lives by making it easier than ever to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu.
New this year, the retailer is launching a digital scheduler, so customers can book an appointment for a flu shot at any one of Walmarts 4,700+ pharmacies for a fast and efficient visit. Additionally, Walmart stores nationwide will host in-store events offering customers convenient flu shots, while following COVID-19 safety precautions.
Also new this year, Walmart is making sure its 1.5 million associates have access to flu shots with no out-of-pocket costs, regardless of their insurance status, so the countrys largest workforce can stay healthy and continue to serve communities throughout flu season. Flu shots are now available at the retailers 4,700+ pharmacies nationwide.
Flu shots are more important than ever in light of COVID-19. With our health care system facing the strain of the pandemic on top of the annual flu season, getting a flu shot can help lessen the burden on the health care industry while also protecting against at least one of the viruses affecting our well-being, Dr. Tom Van Gilder, Walmarts Chief Medical Officer, said. Were all anxiously awaiting the COVID-19 vaccine, but by getting a flu shot now, we can do our immunity service to help keep our communities safe and healthy this fall.
What If I Have An Egg Allergy
Most flu shots and the nasal spray flu vaccine are made using egg-based technology and may contain a small amount of egg proteins. However, studies show that severe allergic reactions to the flu shot and nasal spray vaccine are unlikely in people with egg allergies. People who have experienced only hives after exposure to eggs can receive any influenza vaccine. If eggs have given you serious allergic reactions, meaning any symptom other than hives, you can still receive any of the available influenza vaccines, but you should receive it in a healthcare provider’s office, hospital, clinic or health department under the supervision of a healthcare provider who can recognize and manage severe allergic reactions. Your provider may recommend that you receive the egg-free influenza vaccine.
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Zacks Rank And Key Picks
Currently, Walgreens carries a Zacks Rank #3 .
A few better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Envista Holdings Corporation NVST, BellRing Brands, Inc. BRBR and Henry Schein, Inc. HSIC, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 . You can see the complete list of Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Envista Holdings has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 26%.
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Henry Schein has a projected long-term earnings growth rate of 14%.
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Can I Get The Flu Shot If I’m Pregnant
Yes, the CDC recommends receiving a flu shot during pregnancy In fact, it is recommended that all women who are pregnant or may become pregnant during the flu season receive a flu shot during any trimester. A flu shot protects both the mother and the baby from getting the flu since the mother can pass some of the antibodies on to the baby. Any of the age-appropriate flu shots may be used. It is important that pregnant women only receive a flu shot the nasal spray flu vaccine is not recommended during pregnancy.
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Cvs Pharmacy Kicks Off Senior Days Offering Flu Shots
CVS Pharmacy is set to host a series of Senior Days to give people over age 55 years old quick and easy access to the annual flu vaccine.
The Senior Days, which will be held every Thursday throughout the month of September, will be held at 20 CVS HealthHUB locations in the Tampa-area. During Senior Days, patients will be greeted by pharmacy staff, have access to educational information and receive their vaccination from a dedicated immunizer.
Getting an annual flu shot, along with other important vaccines, such as COVID-19, shingles and pneumonia, if eligible, is important for avoiding illness and protecting the overall health of the community, especially for seniors who are at greater risk of developing severe flu-related illnesses, the company said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that people over age 65 years old receive either the higher dose or adjuvanted flu vaccine, both of which help the body elicit a better immune response to the vaccine. CVS Pharmacy is offering both the high dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines this season and will have both types of vaccine available during the Senior Day events.
While patients can always schedule an immunization appointment ahead of time online or via the CVS Pharmacy app, during Senior Days, patients over age 55 years old are able to simply walk in and request a flu vaccination.
The events will be held every Thursday in September.
What Do Seniors Need To Know About The Flu Vaccine
Compared to younger adults, people who are 65 years and older have a greater risk of developing serious complications from the flu. It has been estimated that in recent years seniors have accounted for 50% to 70% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations and 70% to 85% of seasonal flu-related deaths. In addition, seniors typically develop weaker immune responses to the flu vaccine. That’s why there are special flu vaccines specifically designed for seniorsthe high-dose flu vaccine and the adjuvanted flu vaccine.
Compared to a regular flu shot, the high-dose vaccine has four times the amount of antigen, which is the part of the vaccine that triggers the immune response. The adjuvanted flu vaccine contains an extra substance called an adjuvant that helps the vaccine work better by giving you a stronger immune response. Both the high-dose vaccine and the adjuvanted flu vaccine have demonstrated stronger immune responses in persons 65 years and older as compared to those who received the standard flu shot. Note that older adults can get any flu vaccine approved for use in their age group, including standard-dose flu vaccine.
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What Are The Different Types Of Flu Shots
The CDC recommends any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine without preference for one over the otherincluding injectable vaccines and nasal spray vaccines. However, the CDC recommends that adults 65 years and older get an injectable vaccine, and high-dose formulations are available for this age group.
Its important to note that there are two types of flu vaccinations: trivalent and quadrivalent. Trivalent vaccines protect against 2 strains of influenza A and 1 strain of influenza B, whereas quadrivalent vaccines protect against 2 strains of influenza A and 2 strains of influenza B. All of the flu vaccines in the 2021-2022 season are of the quadrivalent variety, and are safe for individuals over 6 months of age with a few exceptions.
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 You Need A Flu Vaccine In 2022
Last year, experts warned that the 2021-2022 flu season would be bad, largely because they thought the flu would make a comeback as many people dropped COVID precautions. That prediction didnt pan out. Last years flu season was actually more mild than many pre-pandemic flu seasons.
This year, experts are prediction the same thing: We could be facing a tough 2022-2023 flu season. And theres reason to think that this time, they could be right.
The flu season in the Southern Hemisphere, which lasts from about April to October, usually predicts what we in the Northern Hemisphere can expect come fall and winter. And currently Australia is seeing surging flu numbers for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to NBC News. The season also started early in the country another bad sign and hit children harder than adults.
Without exposure to the flu over the last several years, people may also be more vulnerable than usual this season.
And although the flu has been around for some time and doesnt invoke the same fear as COVID or, say, monkeypox, it is crucial to protect your family from the flu. One-hundred ninety-nine kids were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to have died from flu during the 2018-2019 flu season alone, and statistical modelling suggests that 434 children may have actually died from the flu that season. And the flu kills thousands of adults aged 18 to 49 each year and sends tens of thousands to the hospital .
When Should I Get The Flu Shot
The flu season varies from year to year, but it has been known to start as early as October, peak in the winter months between December and February, and then may continue as late as May. The CDC recommends getting the flu vaccine early in the fall before the flu season begins, ideally no later than the end of October. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to build up the antibodies against the flu. It’s better late than never, though. Even if you don’t get the flu vaccine until January or later, you can still benefit from it.
It’s important to get the flu vaccine every year because both you and the flu virus change. The antibodies that you create to build immunity to the flu will decrease with time, so you need a new vaccine to renew your supply of antibodies. The flu viruses are also constantly changing, which is why there is a new formulation every year.
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Were With You On This Journey
From testing to providing fact-based information to our role as a leading provider of COVID-19 vaccinations, we have been beside you as a trusted resource and you can continue to count on us.
Patients are now able to walk-in to more than 9,800 CVS Pharmacy® locations to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Same-day scheduling, including appointments as soon as one hour from time of scheduling, is also available at CVS.com. The scheduler is also updated throughout the day to account for same-day cancellations.
Throughout the pandemic, we have made COVID-19 testing accessible to thousands of communities nationwide and we are also helping you get vaccinated safely.
We have unmatched experience safely and effectively administering vaccinations. In 2020, we administered nearly 20 million non-COVID-19 vaccinations this includes more than double the number of flu shots given in 2019.
We also made significant investments in our cold chain distribution capabilities when preparing for the COVID-19 vaccines and ensured our CVS Pharmacy locations are equipped to safely store the vaccines.
Most importantly, our team of experienced health care professionals including pharmacists, trained pharmacy technicians, and nurses are skilled at administering vaccinations and are playing a key role in helping vaccinate our community.
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What Is Herd Immunity
Another term for herd immunity is community immunity. When enough people in a community are vaccinated against a particular virus, the virus won’t be able to easily spread. Some people can’t get vaccinated, and others are vaccinated but don’t have strong immune responses. These people are especially vulnerable and rely on herd immunity for protection against diseases. Every time you get vaccinated you are protecting yourself, your family and your community.
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Whats Included In Medicare Vaccine Coverage
Original Medicare covers several common vaccines, but you may need to meet certain eligibility requirements first. For instance:
- Pneumococcal Vaccine: You can receive the first shot at any time, but inorder to receive a second one, you must get it within one year of the first.
- HepatitisB Vaccine: Your doctor must determine that youre at a medium or higherrisk in order to receive the Hep B vaccine. Factors that may increase your riskinclude if you live with someone who has the virus, you have diabetes,hemophilia, or End-Stage Renal Disease, or if you work in a health careenvironment and regularly come in contact with bodily fluids.
You may be able to receive the vaccines covered under Original Medicare at your doctors office or at a nearby pharmacy. You should consult with your healthcare professional ahead of time to ensure that they accept Medicare, and that you meet any necessary eligibility guidelines. Youll typically be able to receive covered vaccines at no additional cost, as long as your healthcare provider accepts Medicares payment terms.
What Can I Expect When Getting A Flu Shot At Minuteclinic In Tipp City Oh
Our staff is trained to help you understand risks of the flu as well as administer the flu vaccine. During your visit, you will also learn about ways to help prevent the flu this season. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention advises that people six months of age or older be vaccinated against influenza annually. Since youre likely to fall into that criteria, you can just stop by the MinuteClinic at 914 West Main Street and get your flu shot at your convenience while picking up your prescriptions or same-day photo order!
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Seasonal Flu And Covid
COVID-19 and the flu will likely both be spreading this season, according to the CDC. Protecting yourself from the flu with a flu shot helps reduce your risk of serious illness and hospitalization.3 Thats important this year because there continue to be concerns about hospital capacity with the ongoing spread of COVID-19. It may be hard to know if you have COVID-19 or if it may be the flu or a cold, since symptoms are similar. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine will give you the best protection. You can even get them at the same time.3 Ask your doctor if you have more questions about how these vaccines can help protect you.
- Those with specific health conditions
A $5 Walgreens Cash Reward Is Being Offered To Individuals Who Receive Any Vaccination At Walgreens And A $10 Walgreens Cash Reward* Will Be Offered In September
DEERFIELD, Ill., August 15, 2022 – Walgreens is now offering flu shots for anyone aged 3 years and up at nearly 9,000 store locations nationwide to help reduce the spread of vaccine-preventable illnesses in communities.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
A recent spike in flu cases in the Southern Hemisphere is being regarded as a warning sign that flu activity in the U.S. could reach pre-pandemic levels during the 2022-2023 flu season. Australia is nearing the end of its worst flu season in five years, according to a report from the country’s Department of Health and Aged Care.1
Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect ourselves and those around us from flu and other vaccine preventable illnesses, said Dr. Anita Patel, PharmD, vice president, pharmacy services development, Walgreens. To help save families a trip, Walgreens pharmacists are co-administering flu shots and other recommended vaccines during a single visit.
Walgreens is offering a $5 Walgreens Cash reward in August through December and a $10 Walgreens Cash reward* during the month of September to individuals who receive any vaccination at a Walgreens location.
How to prepare for a visit:
Get a Shot. Give a Shot. Lifesaving vaccines for children around the world
About Walgreens
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